Moscow speaks of rapprochement in negotiations – Kyiv sees provocation – Ukraine

Even before either of the two heads of state sat down in front of the webcam, the media from Philadelphia to Beijing discussed the symbolism: US President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping spoke to each other via video link for the first time since the Russian invasion of Ukraine . Officially, the conflict was just one item among several on the agenda, but ultimately the most important. After Xi and Russian President Vladimir Putin swore to each other “boundless friendship” in early February, reports in the Chinese media that Ukrainian cities were being destroyed by Russian bombing were taken as a sign that Beijing might be moving away from Moscow. Of course, nobody in the Middle Kingdom described the Russian aggression as a war or even an invasion. However, China’s ambassador to Ukraine assured his hosts: “We will always respect your state.”