Xi Jinping strengthens China-Russia alliance with Moscow visit

Chinese President Xi Jinping's visit to Moscow to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin will be a significant moment, signaling China now sees far less need to publicly distance itself from Putin amid the war. The two-day state visit will be Xi's first trip to Russia since the war began and comes as Western countries are increasingly concerned China is moving to more actively support Moscow and play a more assertive role in shaping the conflict, at a moment when Ukraine is readying for a much-anticipated spring counteroffensive.