Balance of Power

Putin and Xi Are Friends But Far From Equals

The Russian and Chinese leaders will likely stress their “no-limits” friendship at tomorrow’s talks.
Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin in May 2025.Photographer: Evgenia Novozhenina/Pool/AFP/Getty Images

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Vladimir Putin travels to Beijing today looking more vulnerable than he did when he last met Chinese President Xi Jinping in September.