»China “believes that Russia will fail in Ukraine and come out of the conflict as a minor power.”«
Chinese officials have described Vladimir Putin as ‘crazy’ and asserted that Beijing believes Russia would lose its war in Ukraine and emerge as a’minor power’ as a result.
In a rare condemnation of Putin’s savage invasion, a number of Chinese officials cautioned Beijing against’simply following Russia’ and blindly supporting the conflict in Ukraine.
The officials stated that they believe Russia will lose the war in Ukraine, and that as a result of this costly and lethal battle, Moscow will emerge as a “minor power” with a weakened economy and a negative reputation on the international scene.
The critical remarks from Chinese officials, with some accusing Putin of being ‘mad,’ signal a dramatic turning point in the ostensibly cordial relations between Russia and China, just one month after the two nations pledged to strengthen bilateral ties.
It appears that President Xi Jinping is attempting, through his officials, to separate himself from Vladimir Putin and his war, as he focuses on mending his diplomatic relations with the West. Pictured: Putin and Xi met in Beijing on February 4, 2022, twenty days prior to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Wednesday, a Ukrainian army Grad multiple rocket launcher fired missiles against Russian forces near Soledar, Donetsk area, Ukraine.
It appears that President Xi Jinping is attempting, through his officials, to separate himself from Vladimir Putin and his war, as he focuses on mending his diplomatic relations with the West.
A Chinese official told the Financial Times, “Putin is insane.”
The decision to invade was taken by a very small group of individuals. China should not blindly imitate Russia.
Chinese officials stated that Beijing now deems it likely that Russia will fail in its aim to win the war against Ukraine and will emerge from the battle as a “minor power.”
On the ground in Ukraine, Russia has suffered a series of setbacks, with hundreds of soldiers killed in heavy battle in the eastern Ukrainian city of Soledar. Iran has reportedly stalled the delivery of missiles to Russian frontline units, making circumstances worse for Moscow.
Since Russia invaded Ukraine about eleven months ago, Xi has refrained from publicly criticizing Putin over the war. However, in November, he issued a direct warning to Putin not to use nuclear weapons in Ukraine, his strongest public rebuke yet to the Kremlin.
And Chinese officials have recently stated that there is mistrust of Putin within the halls of power in Beijing. Before Putin approved the operation, Moscow allegedly did not inform China that it would conduct a full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Putin reportedly told Xi that Russia would not rule out taking all conceivable steps if separatists from eastern Ukraine invade Russian territory and cause humanitarian disasters, according to a media report.
This indicates that tensions between China and Russia have been building in secret for some time. China’s foreign ministry echoed Russian talking points against NATO expansionism and the West’s ‘Cold War mentality’ in public and criticized journalists for using the terms ‘war’ and ‘invasion’
Wednesday depicts Ukrainian soldiers on the battlefield near Soledar, Donetsk area, Ukraine.
China’s tone has shifted, though, as Moscow’s forces have been pummeled on the battlefield. Putin was compelled to state publicly in September at a summit in Uzbekistan that Xi had “questions and concerns” after meeting with him.
Now, Xi is attempting to distance himself from Putin and his war as part of a broader campaign to restore China’s relations with Europe and his image domestically in the wake of rare statewide demonstrations over his disastrous zero-Covid policy.
According to reports, Xi is attempting to position himself as the only person capable of preventing Putin from deploying nuclear weapons.
In November, Xi warned Putin directly not to use nuclear weapons in Ukraine, China’s harshest rebuke yet to the Kremlin.
Xi also urged visiting German Chancellor Olaf Scholz to advocate for peace talks, stating that the international community must “create conditions for the resumption of negotiations” and oppose the use or threat of nuclear weapons.
Susan Shirk, director of the 21st Century China Centre at the University of California, San Diego, stated to the Financial Times that China has always opposed the use of nuclear weapons.
However, when Xi Jinping says such things to European leaders, he is emphasizing a certain degree of distance from Russia.
Putin is experiencing a series of setbacks in Ukraine, and to make matters worse, Iran is apparently delaying the delivery of drones to Russian frontline troops.
Putin reportedly called Iranian leader Ebrahim Raisi to inquire about the delay in the delivery of weaponry, specifically ballistic missiles and launchers for those missiles, according to the Russian Telegram channel General SVR.
Today, the Telegram channel said that the Iranian president explained the delay to obstacles and pledged to begin in the near future.
It was asserted that a phone contact between Putin and Raisi was prompted by a discussion regarding drones.
According to a bland Kremlin statement, the phone conversations focused on “increasing bilateral cooperation across the board” and “consistently implementing mutually beneficial projects in energy, transport, and logistics.”
Moscow has become dependent on Iranian drones and missiles due to its own military plants’ chronically sluggish weaponry manufacturing.
In November, Iran’s foreign minister admitted that his country had supplied Russia with drones, arguing that the transfer occurred prior to Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine, during which Iranian-made drones bombed Kiev.
However, the US government said in December that Iran sold hundreds of attack drones to Russia during the summer, and Russia is now preparing to offer Iran with advanced military aid, including air defense systems, helicopters, and fighter jets.
»China “believes that Russia will fail in Ukraine and come out of the conflict as a minor power.”«