Episode
Putin on the back foot? Russian president in China as Ukraine campaign stalls
- Podcast
- The Debate
- Published
- May 19, 2026
- Duration seconds
- 2512
- Processing state
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Summary
Days after Donald Trump left Beijing, it's Vladimir Putin's turn in the Chinese capital, where the Russian president can boast that unlike his US counterpart, he'll be signing actual business deals. But the biggest one may have to wait. Xi Jinping is in no hurry to agree to the Power of Siberia 2 gas pipeline, which would double Russia's exports to China. We ask why, particularly during a global energy crisis. Since 2022, Russia 's dependence on China has grown as it remains bogged down in its war in Ukraine . Of late, the enemy's drones have been hitting key infrastructure further and further inside Russian territory. For its part, the Kremlin is publicly flexing its muscles with three days of joint military drills with Belarus to practice the deployment of nuclear weapons . A show of strength or a show of weakness? Who's really got the momentum at the outset of yet another summer of war in Europe ? Produced by François Picard, Rebecca Gnignati, Juliette Laffont, Ilayda Habip, Margot Loizillon.