Moscow (BN24) – Russian President Vladimir Putin sharply criticized Western sanctions on Saturday, describing them as discriminatory measures that have battered Russia’s economy, as he prepared for a high-profile visit to China.
In a written interview with China’s official Xinhua news agency, published ahead of his trip, Putin said Russia and China jointly opposed what he called “unfair restrictions” in global trade. His remarks come as Moscow’s economy struggles under the weight of trade curbs and the mounting costs of its war in Ukraine.
Putin will spend four days in China beginning Sunday in what the Kremlin has described as an “unprecedented” visit. He will first attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Tianjin before traveling to Beijing for bilateral talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping. The Russian leader is also expected to attend a major military parade in Beijing marking Japan’s formal surrender at the end of World War II.
The visit underscores the deepening partnership between Moscow and Beijing. In recent years, the two countries have expanded economic and strategic ties, declaring a “no limits” relationship in 2022. Putin noted that bilateral trade reached a record $245 billion in 2024, fueled by China’s purchases of Russian oil and exports of goods ranging from cars to electronics.
“Economic cooperation, trade and industrial collaboration between our countries are advancing across multiple areas,” Putin said, adding that transactions between the two nations were now conducted almost entirely in rubles and yuan. He highlighted energy exports, along with agriculture, including pork and beef shipments to China, as growing sectors in bilateral trade.
Western nations have imposed sweeping sanctions on Russia since its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, curbing access to international markets and isolating Moscow from the global financial system. U.S. President Donald Trump has warned of further “massive” sanctions depending on progress in peace efforts, though negotiations have stalled.
Putin did not address accusations from the European Union that China is aiding Russia’s war effort, claims Beijing denies. Instead, he emphasized the mutual benefits of cooperation with Xi, with whom he has met more than 40 times over the past decade.
Wanted by the International Criminal Court over alleged war crimes, including the deportation of Ukrainian children, Putin last visited China in 2024. His return highlights how central Beijing has become to Moscow’s economic survival and geopolitical ambitions amid its confrontation with the West.
Source: Reuters
