BEIJING/MOSCOW –
Russian President Vladimir Putin will travel to China in May for talks with Xi Jinping, in what could be the Kremlin chief’s first overseas trip of his new presidential term, according to five sources familiar with the matter.
Western governments on Monday condemned Putin’s reelection as unfair and undemocratic. But China, India and North Korea congratulated the veteran leader on extending his rule by a further six years, highlighting geopolitical fault lines that have widened since Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
“Putin will visit China,” said one of the sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity. The details were independently confirmed by four other sources, who also spoke on condition of anonymity.