Why is Putin’s visit to China being called “truly unprecedented”?
Vladimir Putin is preparing for a week-long visit to China that the Kremlin has described as “truly unprecedented”. The trip will include Putin’s participation in the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit, talks with Xi Jinping, and attendance at Beijing’s Victory Day military parade—an event marking 80 years since Japan’s defeat in WWII. Alongside Putin and Xi, leaders from North Korea, Iran, and Cuba are also expected, underscoring the event’s geopolitical weight.
What makes this visit so significant is not just symbolism but strategy. Analysts believe Putin and Xi will use the time to align their positions on Ukraine as Washington continues to push for an end to the war. As Alexander Gabuev of the Carnegie Russia Eurasia Centre notes, the conflict has become “one of the main pillars” of the Russia-China relationship, making coordination essential for both sides.
Economically, China has become Moscow’s lifeline since Western sanctions cut Russia off from many markets. Trade hit a record $240 billion in 2023, with Beijing now serving as the top buyer of Russian oil and coal. Talks are expected to focus on major energy deals, including the long-discussed Power of Siberia-2 gas pipeline and expanded oil links into China. Putin will likely push to reverse recent declines in Russian oil exports to China and lock in long-term commitments.
On the military side, cooperation is deepening in ways that worry Western governments. While Beijing insists it has not sent weapons to Russia, U.S. officials say China supplies the bulk of the machine tools and semiconductors Russia needs to rebuild its defense industry. In return, Moscow is believed to share sensitive defense technologies with Beijing.
Although China publicly claims neutrality in the Ukraine war, its alignment with Russia has only grown stronger since 2022. Moscow has even floated the idea of China acting as a security guarantor in future peace talks with Ukraine, a proposal that Kyiv is unlikely to accept.
For these reasons, Putin’s China trip is not just another state visit—it could help cement a new axis of economic and military cooperation that reshapes the balance of power well beyond Ukraine.
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