‘Friends of steel’ Russia, China vow to boost cooperation to next level

Chinese President Xi Jinping told Russia’s Vladimir Putin on Thursday their two countries should be “friends of steel”, as they pledged to boost cooperation to a new level at a time of heightened confrontation with the West.

At the talks, the two leaders cast themselves as defenders of a new world order no longer dominated by the US.

Xi’s participation is an important boost to Putin at a time of acute geopolitical tensions from the West to South Asia, and as Russia comes under pressure from the US in faltering talks aimed at ending the war in Ukraine.

China is Russia’s biggest trading partner and has thrown Moscow an economic lifeline that has helped it navigate Western sanctions.

Ceasefire violated

Russia said Ukraine made two attempts to break through the border into Russia’s Kursk region. Ukraine has not committed to abide by the truce, calling it a ruse. Meanwhile, Kyiv has accused Russia of violating its own truce over 700 times.