Xi and Putin Need Each Other — But Barely Trust Each Other

May 20, 2026 - 09:53

Just days after Trump left Beijing, Putin arrived in China facing a very different reception. State media toned down the visit, and Beijing’s language shifted from “friendship without limits” to cold “practical interests.” Meanwhile, Russia is under mounting pressure — drone attacks near Moscow, battlefield setbacks, and serious damage to its oil infrastructure. So what does Putin really want from Xi Jinping? And why does China need Russia almost as much as Russia needs China? Tonight we break down the hidden reality behind the China-Russia relationship: mutual dependence, quiet mistrust, energy politics, and what may be the world’s most awkward case of “strategic cuddling.”