Thread by @TheStudyofWar

#Xi’s refusal to explicitly align #China with #Russia in #Putin’s envisioned geopolitical conflict with the West is a notable departure from China’s declared “no limits partnership” with Russia preceding the start of the Russian invasion of #Ukraine. isw.pub/UkrWar032023

https://twitter.com/TheStudyofWar/status/1638007924147515393

2/ #Xi’s rhetoric suggests that he is not inclined to fully give #Russia the economic and political support that Russia needs to reverse setbacks in #Ukraine.

3/ #Putin and #Xi offered somewhat similar visions for increased Chinese-Russian economic partnership, and it is likely that the two will sign bilateral trade and economic agreements during Xi’s visit, some of which will likely aim to facilitate schemes for sanctions evasion.

4/ #Xi will likely offer a more concrete proposal for a negotiated settlement to the war in #Ukraine, but it's unclear what his proposal will entail & how receptive the #Kremlin will be to it. The prospects of #China supplying #Russia w/ military equipment also remain unclear.