But they hailed strengthening ties between Moscow and Beijing amid what they referred to as “geopolitical tensions” and a “difficult international situation,” with Putin expressing his want to prolong navy collaboration.
“In the face of increasing geopolitical tensions, the significance of the Russian-Chinese strategic partnership is growing as a stabilizing factor,” mentioned Putin, whose invasion of a neighboring nation has been stymied by fierce Ukrainian resistance and Western navy support.
The Russian chief mentioned he anticipated Xi to go to Moscow within the spring. Such a visit “will demonstrate to the whole world the strength of the Russian-Chinese ties on key issues, will become the main political event of the year in bilateral relations,” he mentioned.
Putin mentioned navy cooperation has a “special place” within the relationship between their nations. He mentioned the Kremlin aimed to “strengthen the cooperation between the armed forces of Russia and China.”
Xi, in flip, mentioned by means of a translator that “in the face of a difficult and far from straightforward international situation,” Beijing was prepared “to increase strategic cooperation with Russia, provide each other with development opportunities, be global partners for the benefit of the peoples of our countries and in the interests of stability around the world.”
In its report on the assembly, Chinese state broadcaster CCTV described the occasions in Ukraine as a “crisis.” The time period marked a departure from China’s typical references to the “Ukraine situation,” and the change could mirror rising Chinese concern concerning the course of the battle.
“Xi Jinping emphasised that China has noted that Russia has never refused to resolve the conflict through diplomatic negotiations, for which it (China) expresses its appreciation,”” CCTV reported.
Ties between Moscow and Beijing have grown stronger since Putin sent his troops into Ukraine on February 24. Just last week, Moscow and Beijing held joint naval drills in the East China Sea. Putin and Xi also spoke by video link last December.
China, which has promised a “no limits” friendship with Russia, has pointedly refused to criticize Moscow’s actions in Ukraine, blaming the U.S. and NATO for provoking the Kremlin, and has blasted the punishing sanctions imposed on Russia.
Russia, in turn, has strongly backed China amid the tensions with the U.S. over Taiwan.
Russia and China are both facing domestic difficulties. Putin is trying to maintain domestic support for a war that has lasted longer than anticipated, while a surge in COVID-19 cases has overwhelmed hospitals in China.
The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine said in its Friday morning update that Russian forces had unleashed a total of 85 missiles and 35 airstrikes on targets across Ukraine in the previous 24 hours. Russia also launched 63 attacks from multiple launch rocket systems, the military report said.
Following the first waves of missiles on Thursday morning, Russian forces attacked Ukraine with Iranian-made Shahed-131/136 drones on Thursday night and early Friday, all of which were shot down, the Ukrainian air force said.
Some were aimed at Kyiv, Mayor Vitali Klitschko said Friday. Of seven exploding drones launched against the Ukrainian capital, two were shot down on the approach to the city and five over Kyiv itself, according to Klitschko.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in his nightly video address that Russia hasn’t abandoned plans to capture all of Donetsk, aiming to accomplish the goal by New Year’s Day. Zelenskyy also warned Ukrainians there could be another widespread air assault.
“There are two days left on this yr. Perhaps the enemy will strive as soon as once more to make us have fun the New Year at midnight. Perhaps, the occupants are planning to make us undergo with the subsequent strikes on our cities,” he said. “But it doesn’t matter what they plan, we all know one factor about ourselves: we are going to survive. We will. We will drive them out. No doubt about it. And they are going to be punished for this horrible warfare.”
Alena Verbitskaya, presidential commissioner for the safety of the rights of defenders of Ukraine, mentioned Friday that 3,392 Ukrainian servicemen are actually in Russian captivity. Another 15,000 individuals are categorized as lacking, he informed Germany’s RedaktionsNetzwerk.
