Torbjørn Færøvik's Blog, page 228

The Observer view on how Xi Jinping plans to use his meeting with war crimes suspect Vladimir Putin

The welcome and overdue indictment of Vladimir Putin for war crimes allegedly committed in Ukraine confirms his position as a global outlaw. The decision by the international criminal court (ICC) is unlikely to lead to his arrest and trial in the foreseeable future. But it does ensure that, from now on, Russia’s president will be a criminal suspect and wanted man, liable to arrest in the ICC’s

Putin and Xi Celebrate Ties Unbroken by Russia’s War in Ukraine

Standing side by side in a show of partnership unshaken by Russia’s yearlong war in Ukraine, President Vladimir V. Putin and China’s top leader, Xi Jinping, began talks in Moscow on Monday with boasts of their close ties and only understated mention of the conflict itself.Though the war and the schisms it has exposed hung over the meeting, the public comments about it from Mr. Xi and Mr. Putin

US urges Xi to press Putin over 'war crimes' in Ukraine

Chinese President Xi Jinping should press Vladimir Putin to "halt the war crimes" in Ukraine, the US has urged. The two will meet again on Tuesday for official talks during Mr Xi's first visit to Moscow since the invasion. The White House's National Security Council spokesman called on Mr Xi to urge his Russian counterpart to withdraw troops from Ukraine.John Kirby said seeking a ceasefire would

China bills itself as a Ukraine peacemaker but US says Xi’s talks with Putin provide ‘diplomatic cover’ for war

Xi Jinping sits down for a second day of talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday but Western allies remain skeptical of any breakthrough over the war in Ukraine with Washington saying the Chinese leader’s visit provides “diplomatic cover” for Moscow.The first day in Russia for Xi was a carefully choreographed show of bonhomie with a brass band serenade, a photo op and lunch with

Xi Jinping says China ready to ‘stand guard over world order’ on Moscow visit

Xi Jinping said China was ready with Russia “to stand guard over the world order based on international law” as he arrived for a state visit to Moscow that comes days after Vladimir Putin was made the subject of an arrest warrant by the international criminal court.The Chinese leader is expected to position himself as a potential peacemaker in the Ukraine war during his two-day visit to Russia –

Zhao Weiguo: Chinese regulator accuses chip tycoon of corruption Published

China's anti-fraud watchdog has accused chip tycoon Zhao Weiguo of corruption, in the latest sign of trouble faced by the country's semiconductor industry. Mr Zhao is the former chairman of computer chipmaker Tsinghua Unigroup. Key players in the sector were investigated for corruption last year after the government poured billions of dollars into projects which stalled or failed. Mr Zhao and

Japan Prime Minister Kishida making surprise visit to Ukraine to meet Zelensky

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida is making a surprise trip to Ukraine on Tuesday to meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky – a day after Chinese leader Xi Jinping met his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin in Moscow.Kishida has already left India, where he met with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and is now on his way to Ukraine, according to Japanese public broadcaster NHK. His trip is

Xi Putin meeting: What to expect from China-Russia talks

Imagine you're Vladimir Putin. You've started a war that hasn't gone to plan; you're up to your eyeballs in sanctions; and now the International Criminal Court has issued an arrest warrant for war crimes with your name on it. It's at times like these you need a friend. Enter Xi Jinping.President Xi once called President Putin his "best friend". The two have much in common: they are both

Xi makes ‘journey of friendship’ to Moscow days after Putin’s war crime warrant issued

For Chinese leader Xi Jinping, his high-profile state visit to Russia and meeting with President Vladimir Putin this week is a timely opportunity to showcase China’s growing diplomatic clout on the world stage and its ambition to challenge the US-led global order. But in many Western capitals the optics of the visit will look very different – two autocrats who have long described themselves as

‘Good old friend’: Putin offers praise for Xi ahead of first trip to Russia since Ukraine invasion

Vladimir Putin has praised “good old friend” Xi Jinping in a newspaper article published in China on the eve of a state visit by the Chinese president that will reaffirm the leaders’ strong ties and provide Moscow with an opportunity to emphasise that it has not been isolated by the global community. The two leaders, who are believed to share a strong personal relationship, will meet one-on-one