Jens Asbjørn Bøgen
Putin is scheduled to arrive in Beijing today.
Sometimes, the biggest players prefer to sit quietly in the corner. They watch the chaos unfold from afar.
Then, without much warning, they decide it is finally time to step into the fight.
A whole new approach
For years, Beijing maintained a careful distance from Putin’s war in Ukraine. However, that old strategy now seems to be officially dead.
According to the state-run Xinhua news agency, China wants to work with the US to actively end the war in Ukraine, effectively abandoning the Chinese hands-off policy regarding the war.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi seemingly confirmed this massive shift in policy during a press meeting, where he noted that Beijing and Washington are currently pursuing diplomatic options to end the war in both Ukraine and Iran.
A key supplier for Putin’s war
In January 2026, the Council on Foreign Relations released a report on the diplomatic situation between China and Russia.
The report cites a Ukrainian official suggesting that China provides Russia with satellite intelligence on targets in Ukraine, and Ukrainian media have also reported that Chinese reconnaissance flights had been observed over Ukrainian positions, which were later hit by Russia.
Additionally, China has condemned new rounds of sanctions on Russia imposed by the European Union, arguing that dialogue is the preferred path forward.
Complex issues
Wang Yi openly acknowledged the deep complications while pushing for a swift resolution.
“Complex issues do not have simple solutions, and peace talks cannot be achieved overnight. As both China and the United States are ready to maintain communication and play a constructive role in the political settlement of the crisis, we hope for a swift conclusion to the fighting,” Wang Yi stated.
He did not provide any details on what approaches Beijing plans to explore.
The Kremlin refuses to talk unless Kyiv fully accepts its extreme territorial demands — demands Kyiv has repeatedly rejected.
Sources: Xinhua, The Kyiv Post, the Council on Foreign Relations
