Kathrine Frich
The timing is probably not an accident.
Global diplomacy often looks like a complicated dance.
When one major world leader leaves a crucial foreign capital, another usually steps in to take their place.
A crowded capital
Right now, United States President Donald Trump is touring China on an official diplomatic trip. As soon as his jet leaves Beijing, another massive political rival is preparing to land.
The Kremlin confirmed on Thursday that Russian President Vladimir Putin will travel to China in the near future.
Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov addressed the timeline during a daily press briefing. According to the news agency EFE, as reported by Digi24, the trip is basically finalized.
“We can say that preparations for the visit are almost complete, we are in the final phase. It will take place soon,” Peskov told reporters.
Setting the stage
Top officials have spent weeks securing the details of this high-stakes meeting.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov flew to Beijing in mid-April to organize the schedule. During that trip, Chinese President Xi Jinping welcomed him personally.
Putin and Xi share a deep professional history. Digi24 reported that the two men have met more than forty times since 2013, with their last face-to-face encounter happening in September 2025.
They also stay in regular contact by phone. During a February call, they discussed tensions surrounding Iran and explored ways to build stronger ties with Cuba and Venezuela.
Pushing for oil
This upcoming summit carries massive financial weight for Moscow. The Russian government desperately wants to sell more natural gas and oil to Asian markets.
Earlier this month, Putin noted that both nations hope to make major progress on an energy agreement.
“I will be very pleased if we can resolve this issue during the visit,” the Russian leader stated on May 9.
Despite the fierce global rivalry right now, Putin recently acknowledged the ongoing diplomatic talks between Beijing and Washington. He called the relationship between the US and China “a factor of stability.”
Sources: Digi24, EFE, Agerpres
