Are Xi Jinping and Putin still ‘best friends’? – The Latest
May 20, 2026•12 min
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Episode description
Xi Jinping welcomed Vladimir Putin to Beijing with pomp and pageantry, just days after hosting Donald Trump. But as Russia’s war in Ukraine makes Moscow increasingly dependent on China, and western leaders thaw relations with Beijing, what does the power imbalance mean for Xi and Putin’s relationship? Lucy Hough speaks to the Guardian’s deputy head of international news, Devika Bhat. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
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