Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin convened in Beijing for a summit described as an intimate gathering between "old friends," where they signed a 47-page document outlining various bilateral commitments and discussed key international issues.
Denial of Reported Remarks
China's foreign ministry vehemently denied reports that Xi had told Donald Trump that Putin might come to regret invading Ukraine. A spokesperson labelled the information as "completely fabricated out of thin air."
Alleged Military Training
European intelligence agencies reported that China secretly trained approximately 200 Russian military personnel, predominantly in drone usage, based on a dual-language agreement signed in July last year. Some of these personnel subsequently returned to fight in Ukraine.
Xi's Call for Middle East Peace
During the high-level talks, Xi urged an end to the US and Israel's war on Iran, emphasising its critical importance for reducing disruption to energy supply stability and the international trade order.
Conflict Updates
The ongoing conflict in Ukraine saw two people killed and 19 injured in Russian attacks on the southeastern city of Dnipro and other regions. Meanwhile, Ukraine launched drone strikes on industrial areas in central Russia.
