China's Lack of Support for Putin's War 'Remarkable' Says Ex-Ambassador

The first meeting between Presidents Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin since Moscow invaded Ukraine has prompted speculation that Beijing has concerns over the war.

Xi greeted Putin as "my dear old friend" and the Russian president praised "the friendship between China and Russia" at Thursday's meeting in Uzbekistan but some noted that the encounter signaled Beijing is offering less than full support for Moscow.

Video, which as of Friday has been viewed more than 1.3 million times, shows Putin telling Xi on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization that Russia "understands your questions and concerns" about Ukraine.

The clip was shared by the former U.S. ambassador to Moscow, Michael McFaul, who wrote: "This is remarkable. Xi is not supporting Putin. No weapons, no ammo, no chips, no real words of solidarity. Just a willingness to buy Russian energy at very discounted prices."

BBC journalist Steve Rosenberg also noted the tone between the leaders, tweeting, "the Kremlin leader has gone and revealed that China is uneasy" about the war in Ukraine.

McFaul also told MSNBC that Putin could have avoided admitting China had questions about the invasion and that the fact "he chose to do so shows that Xi Jinping is not happy with his partner…nobody likes losers."

Newsweek has reached out to McFaul and the Russian and Chinese foreign ministries.

At the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok earlier this month, Putin reiterated his vision of a world order that is pivoting away from the West and he sees China as a central part of that.

China has not endorsed Putin's invasion but has increased trade and other ties with Moscow since it was launched. While remaining a key ally for Putin, Beijing is taking care not to fall foul of sanctions imposed by the international community.

China appears to be heeding a warning from the U.S. that if it violated sanctions, its computer chip maker, Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation, or other companies, would lose access to the American expertise they need.

Deprived of the technology needed to replenish dwindling arms stocks, Russia has reportedly resorted to turning to pariah states like North Korea for artillery shells and rockets, and Iran for drones, to fill the gaps.

Former U.S. Admiral James Stavridis said there had been a change in the dynamic of the ties between Russia and China, telling MSNBC earlier this month that Beijing will dominate the relationship with Moscow in the coming years.