Pressure from the West is strengthening Russia’s ties with China, Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin said in a meeting with his Chinese counterpart in Beijing on Wednesday.
Russia is increasingly seeking diplomatic and economic support from China in the face of its growing international isolation over its invasion of Ukraine.
In his remarks at the start of a meeting with Chinese Premier Li Qiang, Mishustin did not mention the 15-month-old war, which China has avoided criticizing out of deference to Moscow. Instead, he focused on economic cooperation between the two neighbors, who have teamed up to challenge US influence in global affairs.
Relations between the two countries are “at an unprecedented high level” due to an increase in “heunder the pressure of illegitimate sanctions from the West as a whole“Mishustin said.
China says it is neutral between Russia and Ukraine and wants to help negotiate an end to the conflict. But it has accused the West of provoking Moscow and maintained strong diplomatic and trade ties with Russia, contrary to sanctions imposed on Russia.
China’s special envoy met this month in kyiv with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and other government members.
