Russian President Vladimir Putin is likely to visit China in the second half of May, following his formal presidential inauguration expected around May 7.
Russian President Vladimir Putin is poised to visit China in May for discussions with Chinese leader Xi Jinping, marking what could be the Kremlin chief’s first foreign visit in his latest presidential term.
“Putin will visit China,” Reuters reported on Tuesday, citing one of a number of sources who spoke on condition of anonymity.
Another of the sources said Putin’s trip to China would probably take place in the second half of May.
“Several presidential visits and several high-level contacts are being prepared at the moment,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters.
Putin’s potential visit comes amid criticism of his re-election from Western nations, who have labeled it as unfair and undemocratic. Meanwhile, countries like China, India and North Korea extended their congratulations to the Russian president, underscoring the stark geopolitical rifts deepened by Putin’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
