Are Xi and Putin still ‘best friends’? – The Latest

Summary

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Podcast Summary: Today in Focus

Episode: Are Xi and Putin still ‘best friends’? – The Latest
Date: May 20, 2026
Host: Lucy Hoff
Guest: Devika Bhatt (Deputy Head of International News, The Guardian)
Length of Content Discussion: 00:46–10:23

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Episode Overview

This episode of "Today in Focus" analyzes the geopolitical dynamics of the relationship between China and Russia, particularly amid Vladimir Putin's state visit to Beijing just days after Donald Trump’s own visit. Host Lucy Hoff and The Guardian’s Devika Bhatt explore shifts in the power balance between Xi Jinping and Putin, how global events are amplifying China’s diplomatic prominence, and what these developments might mean for Europe and the West.

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Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Diplomatic Stagecraft and Optics

• Xi’s Diplomatic Moment:
  • Xi Jinping is capitalizing on back-to-back high-profile meetings, first with Donald Trump and now with Vladimir Putin.
  • The “pomp and pageantry” in Beijing underscores China’s growing influence ([00:46], [01:49]).
  • Quote:
    “It's almost Xi trying to show he can meet the world's top leaders whenever he likes. Everyone sort of wants a piece of him.”
    — Devika Bhatt [00:46]
• Comparisons in Treatment:
  • Both visits include similar fanfare: honor guard, gun salute, cheering children, marching bands ([01:49]).

2. Nature and Evolution of the Xi-Putin Relationship

• Historic Ties, New Imbalance:

  • Xi and Putin have met more than 40 times; this is Putin’s 25th visit to China ([01:05]).
  • The relationship, though once largely equal, is now asymmetrical, with China in a stronger bargaining position ([02:56], [05:53]).
  • Quote:
    “China definitely has the upper hand on this occasion. And I think both parties know that. Xi knows that, Putin knows that.”
    — Devika Bhatt [00:46], [05:53]

• Diplomatic Language Differences:

  • Putin calls ties “at an unprecedentedly high level”—a sign of Russian enthusiasm ([05:53]).
  • Xi describes the relationship as “unyielding”—a colder, more measured phrase, suggesting calculation ([05:53]).

3. China’s Diplomatic Strategy and International Posture

• Global Player Role:

  • China is leveraging its new diplomatic prominence, partly due to turmoil in Ukraine and Iran, and instability from the U.S. ([02:56], [04:24]).
  • Xi has advocated for a rules-based order:
    • Quote:
      “The world risks regressing into the law of the jungle.”
      — Xi Jinping, cited by Lucy Hoff [04:00]

• Positioning as the “Adult in the Room”:

  • China seeks to present itself as a stabilizing force, contrasting with Western volatility ([04:24], [09:32]).

4. Power Dynamics in Economic and Security Deals

• China’s Leverage:
  • Ongoing deals in tech, trade, and energy (especially the gas pipeline) are being struck on Chinese terms ([05:22]).
  • The economic relationship is described as “very uneven,” with Russia dependent on Chinese trade and investment ([07:11]).
• Russia’s Vulnerability:
  • Russian economy battered by sanctions and the ongoing war in Ukraine; battlefield stalemate increases its reliance on China ([07:11]).
  • Quote:
    “Russia really needs China … that could be a boon for its economy at a time it really needs it.”
    — Devika Bhatt [07:11]

5. Behind Closed Doors: Ukraine and Tacit Support

• China’s Ambiguity on Ukraine:

  • Publicly, China maintains a “neutral” position and calls for peace ([08:09]).
  • Privately, there are ongoing reports—and some evidence—of diplomatic, economic, and even military support for Russia ([08:09]).
  • Joint military exercises, potential troop training, and energy deals reinforce this support ([08:09]).
  • Quote:
    “Even though it says it does not support Russia in this war, it is certainly making moves behind the scenes to help the Russian war effort.”
    — Devika Bhatt [08:09]

• Possible Private Agendas:

  • Putin is likely to seek intelligence from Xi about Trump, given his recent visit ([09:01]).

6. Implications for Europe and the West

• European Anxiety:

  • Europe finds itself needing to cultivate a closer relationship with China, despite discomfort over China’s tacit support for Russia ([09:32]).
  • The Western alliance is challenged by a “volatile” US, leaving Europe anxious about depending on “other big bullies in the playground” ([09:32]).
  • Quote:
    “Europe has made clear [that] it needs to be friends with other big bullies in the playground, if you like … There are all sorts of problems in being friends with China.”
    — Devika Bhatt [09:32]

• Ukraine Watches Closely:

  • The developments are especially sensitive for Ukraine, given ongoing war close to Europe’s borders ([09:32]).

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Xi steals the world stage’s spotlight:
  “It's almost Xi trying to show he can meet the world's top leaders whenever he likes. Everyone sort of wants a piece of him.”
  — Devika Bhatt [00:46]

• On the state of the relationship:
  "China definitely has the upper hand on this occasion. And I think both parties know that. Xi knows that. Putin knows that."
  — Devika Bhatt [00:46], [05:53]

• Rules-based order as rhetoric:
  “The world risks regressing into the law of the jungle.”
  — Xi Jinping, cited by Lucy Hoff [04:00]

• On Europe’s dilemma:
  “Europe has made clear [that] it needs to be friends with other big bullies in the playground, if you like … There are all sorts of problems in being friends with China.”
  — Devika Bhatt [09:32]

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• Xi’s diplomatic showcase and Russian visit optics: [00:46]–[01:49]
• History and evolution of Xi-Putin friendship: [02:34]–[02:56]
• China’s rising diplomatic assertiveness: [04:00]–[04:24]
• Deal-making dynamics & China’s leverage: [05:22]–[05:53]
• Impact of Ukraine war on relationship: [07:04]–[07:56]
• China’s support for Russia and hidden agendas: [08:09]–[09:01]
• European and Western perspectives: [09:16]–[09:32]

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Tone and Closing Notes

The conversation is candid yet analytic, blending sharp political observation with cautious skepticism regarding both Chinese and Russian intentions. The hosts repeatedly highlight how China has maneuvered itself into a position of diplomatic advantage thanks to global uncertainties and the war in Ukraine, with Russia being increasingly the junior partner in the relationship.

Closing Remark:
“The world is in a really kind of perilous state at the moment ... and so pursuing the relationship with China, Europe has made clear is very important because it needs to be friends with other big bullies in the playground, if you like.”
— Devika Bhatt [09:32]

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For more details and coverage, visit The Guardian’s website.

Transcript

[Devika Bhatt]

This is the Guardian.

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[Devika Bhatt]

It's almost Xi trying to show he can meet the world's top leaders whenever he likes. Everyone sort of wants a piece of him. There's no doubt that Beijing is really reveling in this now that China is having this moment on the sort of diplomatic stage. China definitely has the upper hand on this occasion. And I think both parties know that. Xi knows that. Putin knows that.

[Lucy Hoff]

Xi Jinping has welcomed Vladimir Putin to Beijing just days after hosting Donald Trump. But with an increasing power imbalance between the pair, has the relationship between Russia and China changed from the guardians today? In focus, this is the latest. With me, Lucy Hoff. Well, I'm joined by Devika Bhatt, the Guardian's deputy head of international news. Thanks for joining us, Devika. So this morning we've been seeing all these scenes of pomp and pageantry in Beijing as Vladimir Putin, the Russian president, has traveled to China for, I think the 25th time and he and Xi Jinping have had more than 40 meetings in the past. We'll talk about the optics of this meeting because it's in the exact same location that Donald Trump was in just a few days ago.

[Devika Bhatt]

Yeah, thanks for having me, Lucy. Yeah. So as you say, Trump was there just last week and this visit has come hot off the heels of that, probably much to Trump's chagrin, I'd suspect. And yes, the optics and the theater of feels very, very similar. So, you know, there's been the honor guard and a gun salute, which Trump got too, cheering children, you know, waving, in this case Russian and Chinese flags, a marching band. And you know, alongside the kind of formal talks and the sort of handshakes, there's going to be background discussions behind the scenes which again, we sort of saw with the Trump visit, you know, and the optics will be watched especially closely for this sort of compare and contrast opportunity it gives us. But the relationships are very different.

[Lucy Hoff]

So let's talk about that because, I mean, these are two strong men who've been seen as being very much allies on the global stage. I think Xi Jinping has described Putin as his best and most intimate friend, slightly Disquietingly. But has that shifted in recent years, do you think? And perhaps this year, given how much turmoil we're seeing? And in light of course, of Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

[Devika Bhatt]

Yes, I think so. So, yeah, it's absolutely the case that unlike Trump and Xi, this is a kind of really historic relationship that goes back for years and years and they share a lot in common. They're both sort of autocratic strong men who've managed to maintain power for years and years. Again, you know, one suspects Trump might look on, on that quite jealously. And so there's a pre existing relationship here and this trip feels a lot more about, from the Chinese point of view anyway, working out how to sort of leverage that relationship in a kind of useful way. Now that China is having this moment on the diplomatic stage that it's long kind of sought, it's long wanted be seen as the sort of seat, the center of power of global diplomacy in a way it's not really had the opportunity to before. And I think, you know, there's a big sense now that although there is this relationship with Russia, China will want to really think about how it uses that to its advantage. The fact that the two visits come so closely together. It's almost Xi trying to show he can meet the world's top leaders whenever he likes. Everyone sort of wants a piece of him. Yeah.

[Lucy Hoff]

And striking to see the optics of all this pomp and pageantry and this display of military and economic heft from China. Also striking that Xi Jinping has said this quote, that the world risks regressing into the law of the jungle. I mean, striking that China would be advocating the rules based international order and kind of seeming a bit like the adult in the room.

[Devika Bhatt]

Yes. And I think, you know, there's no doubt that Beijing is really reveling in this moment. It sort of gets to say that because of the war in Iran and because of the war in Ukraine, it gets to sort of relish this role that it can kind of seek to play as this sort of global player in diplomacy. There's been no sort of direct mention of the US she has sort of warned of unilateral and hegemonic counter currents running rampant in the international system. And he also sort of said, as you say, the world faces the danger of reverting to the law of the jungle. And Putin, interestingly, has kind of made a big thing of Russian and Chinese cooperation on the world stage and said that that's one of the key stabilizing factors in the world, which, again, feels ironic given the war in Ukraine. But, you know, some might say that we're in a position where the US's actions have sort of enabled both of them to say this, not with a straight face, because it still seems ridiculous, but when the US is also now a volatile player, it has sort of enabled Xi to position himself in this kind of way.

[Lucy Hoff]

Yeah. And perhaps as the sort of leading strongman superpower of this strange new world that we're living in. But in terms of the dynamic between the. These two men, Putin and Xi, meeting today, there's a sense that they've previously met as equals, but that on this occasion, things are very much working in China's favor. They're signing a number of deals on tech and trade, particularly this gas pipeline. Right. But there's suggestions that these are deals that are very much being signed on Chinese terms. Is that fair to say?

[Devika Bhatt]

Yes, very much so. So China definitely has the upper hand on this occasion in a way it may not have done in the past. And I think both parties know that. She know that, Putin knows that, and you can sort of see it on how the trip has played out. So even in the language, there are kind of subtle differences in what they've sort of said. So Putin has said that ties were at a unprecedentedly high level, which is something he said before, and, you know, it's this really unequivocal love for. For China in that sort of statement, whereas Xi has described relations in a much more neutral way as unyielding. So, you know, there's an acknowledgment there that this is a very close relationship. As we sort of discussed before. They, you know, have considered each other and have said openly that they are friends, and there's certainly a kind of warmth there that you don't necessarily see in other relations that both of those countries have with other countries. But nonetheless, the relationship has shifted, and it does feel like China is trying to play a game where it is positioning itself depending on what could be for its advantage at this moment, rather than tying its mask to Russia and saying that that is a relationship it wants to pursue at cost to all others, because that's. That's definitely not the case anymore.

[Lucy Hoff]

And of course, Russia's economy has been absolutely battered by international sanctions, but also the sort of war of attrition that's ground on.

[Devika Bhatt]

Yeah, absolutely. Yeah. So the war in Ukraine has put Russia in this position, not least because of the sanctions, which mean that on the battlefield, things are not going as well. As it would have hoped. And that's just had this massive impact on the economy. The trade relationship, the economic relationship is not equal. It's very uneven. And so Russia really needs China, and there's an opportunity here. With the war in Iraq, Iran, China has faced big problems in terms of energy supplies because of the sort of holdups in the Strait of Hormuz. And so there's an opportunity here for Russia which feels like Putin would really want to seek to increase that relationship on the energy front with China, get China more reliant on Russian energy supplies, and that could be a boon for its economy at a time it really needs it.

[Lucy Hoff]

Yeah, it certainly does. But is there any sign of what she is likely to be saying to Putin behind closed doors about ending the war in Ukraine? Like, do we know what's. Of messaging he. He has towards Russia on. On that?

[Devika Bhatt]

Well, this comes back to your point earlier about the sort of hypocrisy of both countries talking about kind of wanting stability in the world order. China's position on the war has always, in terms of its public stance, has been very much. It is a neutral player, and it's released these really kind of carefully caveated statements about wanting peace and, and the world order to be maintained. But behind the scenes, we know that it has supported Russia in many ways, diplomatically, you know, through state visits such as this one. And also economically, with all these deals that are going on, the countries have had joint military exercises together. There have been reports this week not fully stood up yet, that China might have even had a role in sort of helping with training of troops. So even though it says it does not support Russia in this war, it is certainly making moves behind the scenes to help the Russian war effort.

[Kari Sherman]

Yeah.

[Devika Bhatt]

And so it's quite possible those conversations will have been had behind the scenes. One would have thought Putin will be kind of quizzing Xi on how the Trump visit went, because obviously the Trump Putin relationship is also important for both parties.

[Lucy Hoff]

Yeah. So how do you think this meeting will be looked on by the. By Europe and by the wider West? Because, I mean, they've met several times before, dozens of times before, but this meeting under particular scrutiny and has particular consequences for the, for the rest of the world.

[Devika Bhatt]

Yeah, I think that's right. I think the world is in a really kind of perilous state at the moment with these wars we are seeing, with the way the US has become such a volatile player and has proven time and time again it really cannot be relied upon in a way Europe might have once hoped. And so pursuing the relationship with China, Europe has made clear is very important because it needs to be friends with other big bullies in the playground, if you like. And I think this visit highlights that there are all sorts of problems in being friends with China. You know, as we've, we've talked about, we know that there's been this tacit support behind the scenes, from which, of course, Europe will be deeply uneasy about, given the war in Ukraine happening on Europe's very doorstep. And Ukraine itself is probably looking at this very closely, too.

[Lucy Hoff]

Yeah. Well, Devika, fascinating. Thank you so much for your time.

[Devika Bhatt]

Not at all. Thanks for having me.

[Lucy Hoff]

That's it for today. My huge thanks again to Devika Bhatt, the Guardian's deputy head of international news. You can keep up with all our coverage of Putin's visit to Beijing [e-mail] and if you're an Arsenal fan or not, head over to our sister podcast, Football Weekly, where they'll be discussing the Gooner's first Premier League title win in 22 years. You can watch it on YouTube or listen wherever you get your podcasts. Thanks for listening to this episode of the latest Today in Focus will be back in your feeds as usual tomorrow morning. The latest will be back tomorrow night. This episode was presented by me, Lucy Hoff. It was produced by Bryony Moore. The senior producer was Ryan Ramgobin. The lead producer was Zoe Hitch.

[Kai Wright]

I'm Kai Wright.

[Kari Sherman]

I'm Kari Sherman.

[Kai Wright]

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[Kai Wright]

on and on and on and on. But, like, we're trying to figure out how to manage it, right? Like, how do you manage it?

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[Devika Bhatt]

This is the Guardian

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