Putin-China Peace Plan Can Be Taken As Basis For Deal w/Ukraine

Formal talks between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping have concluded in Moscow. Putin states that the two 'did not ignore the situation in Ukraine', and that the 'China peace plan can be taken as the basis for settlement in Ukraine when the West and Kyiv are ready'.

• Xi states that the Chinese Ukraine settlement 'is guided by principles of the UN charter' and that 'China has an impartial position on the Ukraine crisis'. Says that 'we are for peace....we are for dialogue'. Xi: China and Russia are building a multipolar world.'
• There remain significant concerns in Western capitals as to China's reliability as a neutral arbiter in the Ukraine war. Still uncertainty as to whether Xi will hold a call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy this week.
• Putin: 'China is clearly Russia's top trade and economic partner....trade and economic cooperation is a priority for our relationship'.
• Putin: 'We discussed energy cooperation....Russia is ready to increase oil supplies to China...There are broad prospects for cooperation in gas sectors...LNG supplies to China will increase.' Xi: 'We agreed to activate planning at high level to increase energy trade.'