‘Let Zelensky come to Moscow’ Putin uses Beijing press conference to talk a little about his China visit — and a lot about Ukraine
Vladimir Putin wrapped up his four-day visit to China on Wednesday. During the trip, the Russian president attended a Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit, held talks with a range of foreign leaders, and attended Beijing’s largest-ever military parade, where he appeared alongside Chinese President Xi Jinping and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. At his closing press conference, however, he focused primarily on the war in Ukraine and his grievances against the West. Meduza sums up Putin’s statements.
On the results of his China visit
Putin called his four-day visit to China a success, noting that he managed to hold discussions with other heads of state both at the negotiating table and in informal settings. He said the Power of Siberia-2 gas pipeline, for which Moscow and Beijing signed a legally binding construction agreement, will be beneficial to both countries: “There’s no charity involved here.” He added that the price of the gas supplied through the pipeline will be market based, and that Russia eventually plans to supply China with more than 100 billion cubic meters of gas per year.
On security guarantees for Ukraine
Putin claimed that Russia has never been against the idea of Ukraine joining the E.U., but that it’s always opposed Ukrainian NATO membership. He also rejected the idea of an agreement in which Ukraine trades territory for security guarantees, saying that Russia “has never discussed Ukraine’s security guarantees in exchange for territory.”
On a possible meeting with Zelensky
Putin said that he “has not ruled out” direct talks with Ukraine’s president, but questioned whether meeting with him would be beneficial. “If Zelensky is willing, let him come to Moscow, and such a meeting will take place,” he said.
On German Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s statement calling him a war criminal
“I think Merz’s statement is an unsuccessful attempt to shift responsibility for the tragedy happening in Ukraine,” Putin said.
On the possibility of ceasefire
Putin said that he believes it’s “possible to agree on an acceptable way to end” the war in Ukraine, “especially since we see the attitude of the current U.S. administration, hear calls to find solutions, and see a light at the end of the tunnel.” But if ceasefire talks fail, he said, “everything will have to be resolved by force.”
On his conversation with Trump in ‘The Beast’
Putin said that he and Trump spoke English while riding in “The Beast” — the U.S. presidential state car — during their summit in Alaska. “My English is broken. I said, ‘Very glad to see you, dear neighbor, healthy and alive,” he told journalists.
On his hot mic conversation with Xi Jinping
Putin acknowledged that he and Chinese leader Xi Jinping discussed organ replacement technology and the possibility that human life expectancy will increase up to 150 years in the future. Earlier, media reports noted that a hot mic had caught the two leaders discussing life-extending technology and immortality.
On relations with Azerbaijan
Asked about his interactions with Azerbaijani leader Ilham Aliyev in China, Putin downplayed Moscow and Baku’s ongoing diplomatic crisis: “There are always issues in relations depending on the current situation; there are problems. But today, when I met with President Aliyev, we exchanged greetings and a few words. Fundamental relations and mutual interests will ultimately put everything in its place.”