Xi may speak with Zelensky after his meeting with Putin, say reports, but their won't be any personal meeting between them. Xi has no plans to go to the Ukraine, and Zelensky certainly isn't going to Moscow. No, there won't be any meeting between Xi and Zelensky apart form a telephone call, and that is unlikely to be viewed publicly, unless of course, Xi is looking to earn a few international browny points. But lets check back here in 2 days and we'll see...
Russia has categorically ruled out adopting Zelensky's Peace Plan, especially items like returning all Ukranian occupied territories to the Ukraine, including the Crimea. Putin isn't going to give up once inch of territory that he has taken by force. That is not what despots do.
Then there is Zelensky's important item of prosecution against Russia for war crimes by Russian soldiers. Sure, I can see Russia handing over its troops for the Butcha massacre and other places of autroocities.
Another impossibility: the removal of all Russian troops form the Ukraine. Not while Putin is alive.
Anyway, Xi nor anyone else can budge either the Ukraine or Russia on any of these points, so Zelensky's Peace Plan will remain a dream, albiet a very noble one.
Xi on the otherhand doesn't actually have much need for involvment in the Ukrainian war, other of course a hope that Russia will win, something that Xi knows is quite unlikely. He's certainly not going to get China involved directly in the conflict, as he has nothing to gain from it, and lots to lose, like an EU economic alliance. No, Xi is not going to see Putin to help him. Xi is going to ask for an assurance for his own agenda. Putin is very likely to ask for something in return, like Chinese weapons supply. This is a possibility, because soon enough, China is going to be at war with the West when they invade Taiwan, so getting Russian support is quite a good deal for Xi for giving Putin weapons, but receiving condemnation form the West, when he's only going to get it anyway when he invades Taiwan soon.
I wouldn't dismiss so quickly Alexander Korolev's view that Xi is going to Moscow to help cement his own plans, after all, Xi doesn't need to go for Putin's sake, and certainly not for Ukraine, so that leaves his only ambitions, which of course, were discussed months gao with Putin in their no limits partnership. No limits to who Russia invades, and no limits to what China will do either, each backing the other.
Expand
