Putin and Xi hold “detailed” exchange of views on first day of talks at Kremlin

Issued on: 03/21/2023 – 12:42

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov declined to give further details, urging reporters to wait for a joint statement later Tuesday after the two leaders met for a second day of talks.

“There was a very thorough exchange of views, a serious talk in the informal part,” he said, referring to Monday’s meeting.

He said the two leaders discussed China’s proposal – a 12-point paper calling for de-escalation and eventually a ceasefire in Ukraine – but again declined to elaborate.

Putin said Monday he has carefully studied China’s ideas, treated them with respect and will discuss them with Xi.

The Chinese document lays out some general principles but does not provide a detailed plan for ending the war, now in its 13th month.

The United States has rebuffed this in the face of China’s refusal to condemn the Russian invasion, saying a resulting ceasefire would now only lock in Russian territorial gains and give Putin’s army more time to regroup.

China has refrained from condemning its ally Russia or calling Moscow’s intervention in its neighbor an “invasion.” She has also criticized Western sanctions against Russia.

Kiev, which says the war cannot end until Russia withdraws its troops, has been wary of China and cautiously welcomed Beijing’s peace proposal when it was unveiled last month.

(Reuters)