Open to discussing China's Ukraine plan, Putin tells Xi Jinping

Chinese President Xi Jinping said that China and Russia have "forged a longstanding friendship", reported TASS.

"The growth of China-Russia relations has not only brought tangible benefits to the people of our two countries, but also made important contributions to the development and progress of the world," he said, as quoted by TASS.

Xi Jinping said that he was sure that people in Russians would support President Putin in presidential elections that are due in 2024.

"I know that next year there will be another presidential election in your country," Xi told Putin at the start of talks in the Kremlin.

"Thanks to your strong leadership, Russia has made significant progress in achieving the prosperity of the country in recent years. I am sure that the Russian people will strongly support you in your good endeavours."
 

Chinese President Xi Jinping has hailed China's 'close ties' with Russia.

"We are partners in comprehensive strategic cooperation. It is this status that determines that there should be close ties between our countries," the Chinese leader said, according to translated remarks carried by Russian state television.

Putin has said that Russia and China have 'plenty of common objectives'.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has started talks with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping. Putin has said that he is open to discussing China's Ukraine plan.

China has so far provided diplomatic cover to Russia in the face of flak Russia has received from Western countries after its invasion of Ukraine.

Chinese President Xi Jinping has met Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow. The two leaders have begun their discussion.

After his arrival at Moscow city's Vnukovo airport, Chinese President Xi Jinping's motorcade was seen travelling towards centre of Moscow.

Chinese president arrives in Moscow, eyes 'new momentum' in China-Russia ties

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Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday said that Russia would supply African countries grain in case Moscow exits Ukraine grain deal.

Amid Xi's visit to Moscow, Britain said the Chinese president should back Beijing's stated support for respect of territorial integrity and demand that Russia end its conflict with Ukraine.

"China has spoken previously about the importance of respecting the sovereignty and territorial integrity in Ukraine. We would like to see President Xi advocate for this point when he speaks to Putin," said United Kingdom Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's spokesperson. 

A Downing Street spokesperson added, "So we hope President Xi uses this opportunity to press President Putin to cease bombing Ukrainian cities, hospitals, schools, to halt some of these atrocities that we are seeing on a daily basis". 

In an interview with AFP, Ukrainian foreign ministry spokesman Oleg Nikolenko, on Monday said, "Ukraine is following closely the Chinese President's visit to Russia. We expect Beijing to use its influence on Moscow to make it put an end to the aggressive war against Ukraine". 

Russia's Investigative Committee, on Monday, said they have opened a criminal case against the International Criminal Court (ICC) prosecutor and judges who issued an arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin on war crimes charges, on Friday. 

A criminal case has been opened against the ICC prosecutor Karim Ahmad Khan and several ICC judges for their "unlawful" decision to seek Putin's arrest.

On Monday, Ukraine's National Security and Defence Council, Oleksiy Danilov, took to Twitter and wrote, "The formula for the successful implementation of China's 'Peace Plan'. The first and foremost point is the surrender or withdrawal of Russian occupation forces from (Ukrainian territory) in accordance with international law and the UN Charter. In order to restore sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity."  

Kremlin aide Yury Ushakov said Russian President Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping will hold face-to-face talks in the Kremlin on Monday afternoon, reported Russian state media TASS. The leaders will continue talks on Tuesday where they will be joined by members of delegations.

Meanwhile, Xi is also scheduled to meet with Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin on Tuesday morning. The Kremlin aide also noted that "there will be no additional protocol stuff, the main thing is negotiations, negotiations and negotiations," reported TASS. 

Xi was greeted by Russia on a red carpet on the runway of Moscow's Vnukovo airport by a military brass band playing the anthems of the two countries. The Russian media also showed the Chinese president being greeted by Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Chernyshenko. 

Xi hailed China and Russia as "good neighbours" and "reliable partners"

According to TASS, the Chinese Hongqi (Red Banner) car waited for the country’s president outside the airport. "In a world of volatility and transformation, China will continue to work with Russia to safeguard the international system with the UN at its core," said Xi upon his arrival, as per Russian media. 

Ahead of the Chinese president's visit, foreign ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin, on Monday during his daily briefing, called on the International Criminal Court (ICC) to avoid what it described as double standards and "respect the immunity of heads of state from jurisdiction under international law".

This comes after the ICC issued an arrest warrant for Russian leader Vladimir Putin on war crimes charges, on Friday. Wang also urged the court to "avoid politicisation and double standards" while stressing that the solution to the Ukraine conflict remained "dialogue and negotiation". 

Chinese President Xi Jinping has arrived in Moscow on Monday afternoon and was due to hold "informal" talks with his Russian counterpart followed by dinner, as per media reports. Formal talks are scheduled for Tuesday (March 21). 

Speaking to reporters upon his arrival in Moscow, Chinese president Xi said, "I am confident the visit will be fruitful and give new momentum to the healthy and stable development of Chinese-Russian relations", as per media reports. 

On Monday, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said, "The US is sticking to its position aimed at fanning the conflict, creating obstacles to lowering the intensity of the fighting and continuing the supply of arms to Ukraine", reported AFP. This came ahead of Chinese President Xi Jinping's visit which is expected to address Beijing's proposals for peace. 

Chinese President Xi will be the first national leader to meet Putin since the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued an arrest warrant against the Russian president, last week, over his deportation of Ukrainian children to Russia since its invasion.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, on Monday said Russian President Vladimir Putin would provide Chinese President Xi Jinping with "clarifications" about Moscow's stance Ukraine conflict during Xi's state visit, reported Reuters. 

During a call with the reporters he also said that China's peace plan for the Ukraine conflict will also be discussed by the two leaders. 

Chinese President Xi Jinping has landed in Moscow for meetings with his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, Russian state media TASS reported Monday (March 20).

Xi's plane landed at Moscow's Vnukovo airport around 12:59 Moscow time, reported the Russian state media.