'We are grateful': Putin thanks China for Ukraine peace initiatives

Vladimir Putin thanked his Chinese counterpart for China's efforts to resolve the Ukraine war during a summit in Beijing on Thursday.

Xi Jinping, in parallel, said China hopes peace and stability will return to Europe and that Beijing would "play a constructive role toward this".

China last year offered a general plan for ending Russia's invasion of Ukraine, though it did not detail how Beijing would engage with both sides.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy cautiously welcomed China's initiative in February 2023, but said it would only be acceptable if Russian troops withdrew from all occupied territory in Ukraine.

Before their remarks on Thursday, Putin and Xi signed a joint statement on deepening their strategic partnership.

Beijing has emerged as a lifeline for Moscow as Western sanctions over the war in Ukraine have cut much of its access to international trade.

In July 2023, a US intelligence report alleged China had "probably" provided Moscow with key technology, including drones and fighter jet parts, it was using to wage war in Ukraine.

Putin said he would inform the Chinese leader in detail about “the situation in Ukraine”.

“We are grateful for the initiative of our Chinese colleagues and friends to regulate the situation,” he added.

The trip — underscoring the close ties between the two autocratic leaders - comes as Moscow intensifies its offensive in Ukraine, with Ukrainian troops pulling back in Kharkiv on Wednesday.

Chinese state media called the Russian president an "old friend" ahead of the two-day state visit.

Arriving at dawn, Xi welcomed Putin with full military honours at the Great Hall of the People in the heart of China's capital.

China's number one said the two countries were deepening their relationship as “good neighbours, good friends, good partners,” according to Chinese state broadcaster CCTV.

Before arriving in Beijing, Putin said in an interview with Chinese media that the Kremlin is prepared to negotiate over the conflict in Ukraine.

“We are open to a dialogue on Ukraine, but such negotiations must take into account the interests of all countries involved in the conflict, including ours,” the Russian leader was quoted as saying by the official Xinhua News Agency.

"Unfortunately, neither Ukraine nor its Western patrons support these initiatives," he continued. "They are not ready to engage in an equal, honest and open dialogue based on mutual respect and consideration of each other’s interests.”

Zelenskyy has said any negotiations must include restoring Ukraine’s territorial integrity and providing security guarantees for Kyiv, alongside the withdrawal of Russian troops.

China claims to take a neutral position in the conflict, though experts previously told Euronews that its stance is complicated and pushed and pulled in competing directions.

Beijing has backed Moscow's contentious claim that Russia was provoked into attacking Ukraine by the West, despite Putin's saying he wants to restore Russia's century-old borders as the reason for his assault.

Russian state news agency RIA Novosti quoted the Russian leader as saying that Russia-China relations are "not directed against anyone".

"Our cooperation in world affairs today is one of the main stabilising factors in the international arena,” Putin said.

In their meeting after dawn on Thursday, Xi congratulated Putin on securing a fifth term in office.

Putin faced no credible opposition in the presidential race and, like Xi, has not laid out any plans for any potential successors.

Russia's forces have pressed an offensive in northeastern Ukraine’s Kharkiv region that began last week, marking the most significant border incursion since the full-scale invasion began in 2022.

Ukrainian forces have withdrawn from positions in villages around Kharkiv. Meanwhile, almost 8,000 people have fled their homes.