Days after Vladimir Putin was hit with a global warrant for alleged battle crimes in Ukraine, Xi Jinping’s first state go to to Moscow in 4 years is an indication of the Chinese chief’s dedication to Russia’s president — however can be set to point out the crimson strains in what the pair final 12 months dubbed a “no limits partnership”.

Putin, who travelled defiantly to occupied Ukrainian territory on the weekend after the International Criminal Court warrant, will hope that Xi’s three-day go to from Monday will lend legitimacy to his invasion of Ukraine and that China would possibly pledge materials help to assist his army battle it.

But there are indicators that Xi will stay guarded over the potential prices of friendship with Russia’s chief, notably in Europe as Beijing tries to spice up commerce after its zero-Covid coverage savaged its financial system final 12 months. And regardless of warnings from the US that China was contemplating sending arms to Russia, there may be as but little proof of considerable flows of weapons between the 2 nations.

After his journey to Moscow Xi could name Putin’s nemesis, Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelenskyy, in accordance with one individual acquainted with the matter. It could be Xi’s first direct contact with Zelenskyy because the full invasion and an indication of the constraints China sees on its alliance with Russia, at a time when Beijing needs to claim credentials as a possible peacemaker.

“I think he will do the call,” mentioned Yu Jie, a senior analysis fellow on China within the Asia-Pacific Program at Chatham House. “China simply cannot afford to become a rival of both the US and Europe.”

Beijing’s shut ties with Moscow regardless of the battle, which analysts have dubbed “pro-Russia neutrality”, are damaging its standing in Europe. While China’s place paper final month on a possible settlement in Ukraine was met with scepticism within the west, it’s a approach for Beijing to reposition itself and see how the battle evolves, analysts say.

The problem for Xi is to strike a steadiness between these issues and the advantages of nearer ties to Moscow at a time of mounting stress with the US and its allies.

“The Ukraine war has intensified the great power rivalry and made the geopolitical faultlines between the US and China even more pronounced, and in response China and Russia are now really consolidating their alignment,” mentioned Alexander Korolev, an skilled on China-Russia relations on the University of New South Wales in Sydney.

“China will need Russia for its impending confrontation with the US, which is becoming very real,” he added, pointing to nearer army relations between the 2 nations and Beijing’s want to arrange different vitality provide routes in case seaborne oil imports from the Middle East have been blocked in any conflict with the US over Taiwan.

As Europe and the US have imposed harsh sanctions on Russia, China’s commerce with its neighbour has soared over the previous 12 months, leaping 34.3 per cent to a file Rmb1.28tn, in accordance with Chinese state-controlled media. This 12 months, pure gasoline imports from Russia are anticipated to rise by a 3rd.

Trade with Beijing has given Russia an financial lifeline, making up for some misplaced oil gross sales to the US and Europe and supplying replacements for essential western-made parts similar to microchips, 5G gear and industrial equipment.

“[The Chinese] understand that this is a very beneficial moment for them to get Russia deeper in their pocket. They have a tremendous amount of leverage,” mentioned Alexander Gabuev, a senior fellow on the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.

Putin’s framing of the battle as a part of a broader battle with the west has drawn the 2 nations nearer. Russia is a helpful associate in China’s efforts to push again towards the US “hegemon”, analysts say. Russia’s highly effective safety council secretary Nikolai Patrushev gave full-throated backing for Beijing’s stance on Taiwan when assembly China’s prime diplomat Wang Yi final month.

“For Russia, the limitations that existed before are gone,” Gabuev mentioned. “Putin is obsessed with this war, and the partnership brings him a lifeline to the economy, critical components for his military machine, and China a tool to push back against the US — because the enemy of my enemy is my friend.”

Beijing and Moscow’s deepening ties led US secretary of state Antony Blinken to warn final month that any materials Chinese help for Russia’s army would have “serious consequences” for relations with the US.

China has responded that the west is fuelling the battle with its arms gross sales to Ukraine. “China was not the cause of or catalyst of the Ukraine crisis, nor did it provide weapons to any party in the conflict,” Qin Gang, China’s overseas minister, mentioned this month.

Yet whereas relations with Russia stay essential, China has a restricted alternative if it needs to stabilise ties with larger buying and selling companions within the west.

Xi can have an opportunity to fulfill US president Joe Biden at two summits this 12 months however with a US election subsequent 12 months the probabilities of additional rapprochement with Washington can be restricted. And whereas a number of European leaders together with French president Emmanuel Macron plan to go to China this 12 months, the success of those conferences can be colored by how far Xi backs Russia in Ukraine.

For this purpose, Beijing’s efforts to color itself as a mediator are essential, analysts say. China this month loved a uncommon success in battle decision when it brokered a deal to revive diplomatic relations between Iran and Saudi Arabia.

Solving the Ukraine battle could be far more durable, analysts say. China’s place paper final month didn’t condemn the Russian invasion and contained thinly veiled criticisms of the west and Nato.

China “lacks the status of an impartial mediator in the Ukraine conflict because of its substantial support of Russia”, mentioned Leif-Eric Easley, a professor of worldwide research at Ewha University in Seoul. “For China to be helpful, it should not suggest what Kyiv can compromise but rather find a face-saving way for Moscow to pull back forces.” 

Contact between Xi and Zelenskyy would signify a concession from China to western scepticism. But any contact was prone to be digital moderately than in-person and the outcomes inconclusive, analysts mentioned, as Xi sought to steadiness China’s need to play peacemaker towards giving any floor to the US.

Beijing seen the Ukraine battle as a proxy battle pitching Russia towards Nato and the US and “Zelenskyy lacks decision-making power”, mentioned one skilled at a Chinese think-tank in Beijing.

“All he [Zelenskyy] can do is to forward the message to Joe Biden. President Xi has no need to endorse Zelenskyy by meeting him in person. China respects Ukraine’s interests. But that’s different from prioritising US interests.”

Additional reporting by Sun Yu in Beijing, Kathrin Hille in Taipei and Edward White in Seoul