Ukraine-Russia war latest: Xi tells Putin that relations are at ‘unprecedentedly high levels’ at Beijing summit

Putin and Xi will meet to discuss key international issues during talks over tea that officials characterised as an intimate tete-a-tete between “old friends”.

Russia said it had “serious expectations” for the visit, and that it will include the signing of a 47-page document making various commitments about Russia–China relations.

After landing last night in China, Putin was greeted by foreign minister Wang Yi and an honour guard alongside Chinese youths waving China and Russia’s national flags.

Earlier, China outright denied Xi had told Trump that Putin might come to regret invading Ukraine – reports that had threatened to overshadow the Russian leader’s visit.

Foreign ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun told a reporter: “The information you mentioned does not match the facts and is completely fabricated out of thin air.”

Peskov adds that the Russian military is closely monitoring the situation regarding drones flying through the Baltic states’ airspace, and is formulating an appropriate response, per TASS.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov says that there is a general understanding with China on the Power of Siberia 2 pipeline, but that details still need to be agreed, and that there are no clear timings.

Russia’s state-owned energy giant Gazprom supplies natural gas to China through a 1,865 mile pipeline called Power of Siberia. During the talks this week, a new pipeline is up for discussion, a Kremlin aide said earlier.

Chinese leader Xi Jinping has concluded his welcoming remarks.

Vladimir Putin now says that Russia is ready to continue supplying energy to China.

He says that Russia and China are committed to pursuing independent foreign policies and playing stabilising roles on the international stage.

The pair finished their comments without taking any questions from reporters.

Two industrial sites in Russia’s Nizhny Novgorod region were on fire on Wednesday, after a drone attack, the regional governor said in a statement.

Russian President Vladimir Putin met his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping in Beijing on Wednesday, days after Xi had talks with US President Donald Trump.

– The leaders will sign joint statements and a number of other bilateral agreements, with economic cooperation in focus.

– They they have an opening ceremony for a bilateral education initiative.

– Putin will meet Chinese premier Li Qiang to discuss trade and more economic cooperation.

– Putin and Xi will have a tea session to discussion foreign issues, according to a Kremlin aide.

Kirill Dmitriev, head of Russia’s sovereign wealth fund, said Russia is also considering the possibility of joint projects with the US and China.

China’s China Central Television is reporting that the large-scale meeting between Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping has ended.

At least two people were killed and 19 injured in Russia attacks ⁠on Ukraine overnight, local officials said this morning, while Ukraine sent drones to strike industrial areas in central Russia.

In Ukraine, two people were dead and six injured after Russia hit the southeastern city of Dnipro with missiles, drones and artillery, local authorities said ⁠on Telegram.

Another 13 injuries were reported ​in ⁠the northern Sumy region and the southeastern region of Zaporizhzhia, including three children, authorities added.

Russia’s defence ministry claimed its forces downed 273 ⁠drones over the country overnight, TASS state news agency said.

In Russia, drones attacked industrial areas around Nevinnomyssk in the southern Stavropol region, its governor said on Telegram, adding there was no damage reported so far but the attacks were continuing.

The area is home to Nevinnomyssky Azot, a large chemical plant, which has been a target of drone attacks from Ukraine before.

US president Donald ⁠Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff ⁠will ​visit ⁠Russia in ⁠the “near ​future”, according to a senior Russian official.

Vladimir Putin’s special ‌envoy, Kirill ⁠Dmitriev, made the remark during Vladimir Putin’s visit to China on Wednesday, according to a Kremlin ⁠pool ‌reporter.

Dmitriev has been a key figure in talks between the US and Russia aimed at ending the war in Ukraine.