Kremlin: 'Xi Told Putin He Respects Russia's Actions'

Reuters reporting comments from the Kremlin alleging that on a call between the two leaders earlier today, Chinese President Xi Jinping told Russia's Vladimir Putin that 'he respects Russia's actions' and 'affirmed readiness for close coordination and mutual support at the United Nations'.

• RIA: Kremlin says Putin told Xi that he could be ready to send a delegation to Minsk for talks with Ukraine
• Kremlin says both Putin and Xi said 'use of sanctions to achieve selfish goals of individual countries was unacceptable'.
• Kremlin: 'Putin told China's Xi that military operation in Ukraine was necessary to protect civilian population from genocide'.

The West will be watching interactions between China and Russia very closely. Major concern in US and Europe that China and Russia could seek to form a closer geopolitical alliance. Closer coordination at the UN-level could indicate further efforts towards this end.

• Earlier this week, Beijing announced the removal of all restrictions on the import of Russian wheat. Deal agreed during Putin's visit to China during Winter Olympics. China would provide a huge alternative market in the event sanctions see exports to the West dry up.