Chinese leader Xi Jinping has expressed support for Russia, described Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin as an ally in building a new world order and confirmed their joint position on the war against Ukraine during his visit to Moscow on 8 May.

In a joint statement following talks, Xi Jinping and Putin stated that the war in Ukraine could only be resolved by removing its “root causes”.

Such formulation clearly echoes key Russian propaganda messages used by the Kremlin to justify the launch of the full-scale war, including the threat of NATO expansion, discrimination against Russian-speaking people and the suppression of the Russian language, culture and media in Ukraine.