Russian President Vladimir Putin in Beijing for talks with Chinese leader Xi Jinping

https://p.dw.com/p/5E0Te

AdvertisementSkip next section What you need to know

What you need to know

• Putin in Beijing for talks with Xi on Tuesday, May 19 and Wednesday, May 20
• Russia and China have strong economic ties and have declared a "no limits" partnership
• Germany's Merz says he hopes Xi will urge Putin to end the war in Ukraine

Below are headlines and analysis on Russian President Vladimir Putin's visit to Beijing on Tuesday, May 19 and Wednesday, May 20:

Skip next section Putin arrives in China for talks with Xi05/19/2026May 19, 2026

Putin arrives in China for talks with Xi

Russian President Vladimir Putin has arrived in China for talks with Chinese leader Xi Jinping.

The Russian president landed at Beijing Capital International Airport shortly after 11:15 p.m. (0315 UTC).

https://p.dw.com/p/5E0XkSkip next section Germany's Merz hopes for Xi to tell Putin to stop Ukraine war05/19/2026May 19, 2026

Germany's Merz hopes for Xi to tell Putin to stop Ukraine war

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said Berlin hopes that Chinese leader Xi Jinping will use his influence on Russian President Vladimir Putin to urge him to end Moscow's invasion of Ukraine.

"We do not expect a fundamental shift in the strategic relations between Russia and China at this stage," Merz was cited by German news agency DPA as saying.

"But we naturally associate this visit with the hope that President Xi will also urge President Putin to end this war in Ukraine, which he cannot win," he said, pointing to reportedly high casualty rates among Russian soldiers.

Russia has become increasingly reliant on its links to China's economy after being isolated from Western countries due to its war in Ukraine.

China has not condemned the Russian invasion and has called for a negotiated settlement between Kyiv and Moscow.

https://p.dw.com/p/5E0VKSkip next section Putin hails 'unprecedented' Russia-China ties ahead of Xi talks05/19/2026May 19, 2026

Putin hails 'unprecedented' Russia-China ties ahead of Xi talks

Russian President Vladimir Putin was on his way to Beijing on Tuesday for talks with Chinese President  Xi Jinping.

The Kremlin said that Putin and Xi were to discuss ways to "further strengthen" Russian-Chinese ties and "exchange views on key international and regional issues."

In a Tuesday video message, Putin said that China and Russia's relations had reached "a truly unprecedented level" and that "trade between Russia and China continues to grow."

"The close strategic relationship between Russia and China plays a major, stabilizing role globally. Without allying against anyone, we seek peace and universal prosperity," Putin said.

Russia and China have deepened their cooperation since Moscow's February 2022 invasion of Ukraine that isolated it from Western states.

China is the world's largest buyer of Russian oil, which is under Western sanctions.

Russia also aims to set up a natural gas pipeline to China through Mongolia in a project dubbed the "Power of Siberia 2".

https://p.dw.com/p/5E0XMSkip next section Welcome to our coverage05/19/2026May 19, 2026

Welcome to our coverage

Saim Dušan Inayatullah with AFP, AP, dpa, Reuters | Louis Oelofse Editor

Russian President Vladimir Putin is on his way to Chinese capital Beijing for a meeting with China's Xi Jinping.

It comes less than a week after US President Donald Trump visited the Chinese capital.

The Kremlin has said that Putin and Xi are to discuss economic cooperation between the two countries as well as "key international and regional issues."

We will keep you updated with the latest news on Putin's visit on Tuesday and Wednesday.

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