No path to peace: Five key takeaways from Xi and Putin’s talks in Moscow 

Their meeting, which took place under the shadow of Russia’s onslaught in Ukraine, left no question about Beijing’s commitment to developing its rapport with Moscow, despite Putin’s growing isolation on the global stage as its devastating war continues into its second year. 

Russian President Vladimir Putin meets with Chinese leader Xi Jinping at the Kremlin in Moscow on March 21, 2023. - Grigory Sysoyev/AFP/SPUTNIK/Getty ImagesIt also failed to move the needle on bringing that conflict to resolution.Instead, Xi’s three-day visit to the Russian capital, which concluded Wednesday, was an opportunity for the two self-described “friends” to showcase their close personal rapport amid the pomp of a state visit – and lay out how they could advance a world order that counters one they see as led by Washington and its democratic allies.The meeting culminated in more than a dozen agreements bolstering cooperation in areas from trade and technology to state propaganda, according to a Kremlin list. The leaders’ central statement focused on how the two countries would “deepen” their relationship.Chinese leader Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin hold talks at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, March 21, 2023. - Shen Hong/Xinhua/Getty Images

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