Putin at the SCO Summit in China: What the Russian Leader is Really Asking For.

Putin at the SCO Summit: Attempting to Get Help from China

According to FREEДOM:

The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit is taking place in China, where Russian President Vladimir Putin has arrived. His goal is clear — he is trying to gain support from Chinese leader Xi Jinping amid the deteriorating economic situation in Russia.

Political scientist Volodymyr Fesenko noted on the FREEДОМ TV channel that Putin's meeting with Xi Jinping is confirmed by a photo published by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Fesenko believes this is a signal for U.S. President Donald Trump.

'It is clearly obvious who is against whom. It's clear that this is an alliance against the United States. I would strongly advise all friends of the U.S., where possible, through whom possible, to pass this photo to Trump. Let him appreciate it so that he doesn't have any big illusions about Putin, primarily. Secondly, so he understands that a large alliance around China is currently forming in Beijing, but it is essentially directed against the United States,' Fesenko said.

He also emphasized that many representatives of countries that met with Xi Jinping openly declare their intention to jointly counter American influence.

'And how can we make America great again, if some of Trump's friends, who tell him they want to be friends and establish relationships, are actually uniting against him,' the politician noted.

Fesenko believes Trump should pay attention to this photo to understand the real state of affairs with Putin.

'Trump loves to perceive Xi Jinping as someone he can get along with, thinking everything will be fine, we will come to an agreement, everything will be normal. But while he has illusions about his geopolitical competitors, they are forming an alliance against him,' added the expert.

Discussion of the Economic Situation

At the meeting, the Russian delegation, according to Fesenko, will especially discuss the economic situation in relations between China and Russia.

'The situation is paradoxical. It seems that both leaders, Xi Jinping and Putin, speak of an unrestricted alliance. The question is: whose borders? What borders are being discussed here? However, they say that such an alliance, partnership exists, while the volumes of mutual trade are decreasing. That is the first and not the most joyful conclusion,' Fesenko noted.

He also pointed out that Russia primarily supplies raw materials to China, while it imports goods that it previously received from Europe.

'They buy a diverse range — from passenger cars, which, by the way, have practically destroyed the Russian automotive industry, to machinery products, to dual-use goods that are used in the war against Ukraine. And this is also a sad conclusion for Russia, a peculiar diagnosis. Russia depends on China. And the further it goes, the more it does,' said the political scientist.

Fesenko also emphasizes that China will never provide help for free.

'Xi Jinping won't give anything for nothing. I think that conditionally, symbolically, Xi Jinping will take a receipt from Putin, so that he, while negotiating with Trump, doesn't become overly playful,' remarked the expert.

He noted that China may impose additional conditions, including regarding the 'Power of Siberia' gas pipeline.

'And the Chinese present their scheme, saying that our first gas pipeline is not fully loaded, let's increase the volumes supplied through the first gas pipeline, while we will pay less. Thus, Russia is selling gas to China almost at cost price,' said Fesenko.

Experience of Partnership with China

Fesenko summarized that China is using the situation in Russia to its advantage.

'Beijing has made Russia dependent on itself and is profiting, acquiring quite cheap Russian resources. Plus, the Russian market is open,' concluded the expert.