Oh boy this public transcript of the Xi-Putin meeting is something else: kremlin.ru/events/preside…. Putin leans in heavily on "comrade Xi Jinping" (OK, he has previously called him comrade so that's not unexpected), talking about the "ugly character" of the unipolar world order.
Then talks about Ukraine. "We understand your questions and your concern in this connection." Translation: Uncle Xi has not been happy.
Literally in the next paragraph: "We condemn provocations by the US and its satellites in the Taiwan strait." Translation: a quid pro quo.
But check out Xi Jinping's comments to his "old and dear friend." Xi: "We are prepared, with the Russian colleagues, to show an example of being a responsible world power and play a leading role so as to take the world onto the trajectory of sustainable and positive development."
Reads like between-the-lines criticism of Putin's policy imho, and what's not clear is what the "Russian colleagues" have to do with China showing an example of how to be a responsible world power and playing a leading role in this or that. Xi doesn't mention Ukraine.
Conclusion. Putin looks desperate. Xi looks like he is calling the shots. The whole relationship is rapidly becoming very, very lop-sided.
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