Putin's meeting with China's Ministry of Defense Lee Shanfe has not contributed to the expansion of cooperation between countries - ISW

The Kremlin's head of Putin continues to try to represent the Russian Federation as an equal defense partner of China, but neither the visit of Zinpin nor the negotiations with Shanfe has contributed to this. The meeting of Russian President Vladimir Putin and the head of the Ministry of Defense of China Lee Shanf did not deepen cooperation between Russia and China. This conclusion was reached by analysts of the American Institute for War Study (ISW) in the report for April 17.

The official protocols of the meeting of both parties do not contain any references to the war of Russia against Ukraine. In addition, a spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China Van Wenbin confirmed the intention of the PRC to promote peace negotiations in Ukraine and the continuation of cooperation, which was previously agreed by SI and Putin.

"Putin was unable to provide unlimited bilateral partnership with China during the visit of SI to Moscow, and it is likely that the meeting of Lee and Putin did not expand the sphere of Russian-Chinese cooperation," the Institute said. Recall that the head of the Chinese Defense Ministry arrived in Russia on April 16. Before his handshake with Putin, he gave the Russian President an honor and noted that Moscow and Beijing "very strong relationships that prevail in the Cold War.

" According to the State Council of the State Administration of the China and the Minister of Defense of the country Lee Shanf, the relations of Russia and China have improved recently. Earlier, the Institute of War Study reported that the head of PEC "Wagner" Yevgeny Prigogine managed to restore Putin's commitment.