China deepens ties with Russia as Biden rallies Nato over Ukraine

CHINA pledged to deepen cooperation with Russia on Wednesday (Feb 22) while US President Joe Biden discussed security with leaders of Nato’s eastern flank, highlighting geopolitical tensions as the anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine approaches.

Within Ukraine, schools took their classes online for the rest of the week for fear of an upsurge of Russian missile attacks a year on from Moscow’s Feb 24 all-out assault, which failed to topple the government and has long been bogged down.

Making the highest level visit to Russia by a Chinese official since the countries signed a “no limits” partnership weeks before the invasion, China’s top diplomat Wang Li told President Vladimir Putin that Beijing was ready to enhance ties.

A time of crisis required Russia and China “to continuously deepen our comprehensive strategic partnership”, Wang said.

Putin said he was looking forward to a visit to Moscow by Chinese President Xi Jinping and a deeper partnership.

Xi is expected to make a “peace speech” on Friday. Kyiv says there can be no talk of peace with Russian troops in Ukraine.

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“This unprovoked and criminal Russian war against Ukraine, Europe and the democratic world must end with the cleansing of the entire Ukrainian land from Russian occupation and solid guarantees of the long-term security for our state, the whole of Europe and the entire world,” President Volodymyr Zelenskiy wrote on the Telegram messaging app.

Russia is due to begin military exercises with China in South Africa on Friday and has sent a frigate equipped with new generation hypersonic cruise missiles. REUTERS