Vladimir Putin

Russian president
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Vladimir Putin has been in office as Russia's president or prime minister for more than two decades.

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Europe
Firefighters work at the scene of a fire in a destroyed block of flats following a Russian missile attack in Kyiv, Ukraine on Sunday. Photo: SOPA Images via ZUMA Press Wire / dpa
Europe
Ukraine demands emergency Security Council meeting over Russia strikes
Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha also called for a ‘strong response’ after the overnight attacks, which mainly targeted the Kyiv region.
Fire and smoke rise following an explosion during a huge Russian missile and drone strike on Kyiv, Ukraine, on Sunday. Photo: Reuters
Russia & Central Asia
‘Deranged’: 600 drones, 90 missiles, hit Kyiv in retaliation for dorm attack
The latest strikes – including the use of a nuclear-capable Oreshnik missile – killed four people and wounded dozens.
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Illustration: Lau Ka-kuen
Global Economy
Putin left China, with no pipeline deal. Why is the valve still closed?
Though this week’s China-Russia summit featured many agreements, none progressed the long-delayed Power of Siberia 2 natural gas pipeline.
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Flames and smoke rise from the side of a college building in Starobilsk, Ukraine. Photo: Russian Emergency Ministry Press Service via AP
Russia & Central Asia
Putin accuses Ukraine of deadly attack on student dorm, vows retaliation
Ukraine says it struck an elite drone command unit in Starobilsk, denying Russia’s accusations.
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Li Chenggang, China’s international trade representative and a vice-minister of commerce, speaks during the opening ceremony of the Apec ministerial meeting in Suzhou, Jiangsu province, on Friday. Photo: EPA
China Economy
China’s top trade negotiator urges Apec to grow economic pie, divide it fairly
At ministerial meeting in Suzhou, Li Chenggang urges representatives of 21 economies to ‘reject zero-sum thinking’.
2
US President Donald Trump does a thumbs-up pose during a photo opportunity with Chinese President Xi Jinping at the Zhongnanhai Garden in Beijing on May 15. Photo: Pool via AFP
Diplomacy
Selfies and symbolism: behind the scenes from Xi’s summit with Trump, Putin
From the Beijing Great Hall’s fancy ceiling to Elon Musk’s son’s bag, little details stole the spotlight in Xi’s summit with Trump and Putin.
1
A rare earth mine at Bayan Obo, in the Inner Mongolia autonomous region of China, seen in 2011. Photo: VCG via Getty Images
China
Xi hosts Putin over tea; rare earth find in northeast China: 7 highlights
From the Iran conflict rattling Chinese investors to Li Ka-shing’s charitable support, here are highlights from SCMP’s recent reporting.
Sberbank CEO German Gref (right) at the Great Hall of the People ahead of a signing ceremony during Russian President Vladimir Putin’s visit to China, in Beijing on Wednesday. Photo: Reuters
Science
China’s Tsinghua University honours German Gref, Russian banker sanctioned by US
Sberbank CEO accompanied Vladimir Putin during Russian leader’s recent trip to Beijing for summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
2
China Economy
FactSheet|China-Russia: energy ties
Chinese President Xi Jinping has met Russian leader Vladimir Putin more than 40 times since taking office, highlighting close ties between the two nations. Still, plans for the long-delayed Power of Siberia 2 gas pipeline remain on hold.
Most of the deals signed between Russian President Vladimir Putin (left) and Chinese President Xi Jinping on Wednesday are symbolic, according to analysts. Pool photo: Reuters via AP
Diplomacy
China and Russia unite on world order, but Putin departs without concrete gains
Analysts say Beijing’s position in managing three-way ties appears to be strengthened after hosting Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin.
16
Chinese-made vehicles wait to be exported at a port in Jiangsu province on April 27. Photo: AFP
Global Economy
Asia-Pacific trade risks loom large as Apec official warns of protectionism
China is urged to evolve as a world buyer, ahead of ministers’ gathering in Suzhou where a raft of far-reaching trade issues will be discussed.
Illustration: Craig Stephens
China Opinion
Opinion|What Putin, Trump summits say about China’s role in world affairs
Beijing’s desire for systemic stability guides its relations with Moscow and Washington, making it central to global mediation.
Chinese President Xi Jinping (right) and US President Donald Trump are expected to meet again this year. Photo: AP
Diplomacy
Xi’s back-to-back meetings with Trump and Putin: everything you need to know
China’s leader hosted Trump and Putin on separate occasions over the past week, here’s everything you need to know.
Photo: EPA
Diplomacy
Quick Digest|China-Russia joint statement on Xi-Putin summit
The two countries issued a statement following this week’s meeting in Beijing between Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping tour a photo exhibition in Beijing on May 20. Photo: Reuters
Diplomacy
Quick Digest|Xi’s key interactions with US and Russian presidents
Chinese President Xi Jinping hosted Russian leader Vladimir Putin in Beijing days after meeting US President Donald Trump. It was the first time that the leaders of Russia and the US have made state visits to China in the same month.
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and President Xi Jinping at Pyongyang airport in June 2019. Photo: AFP
Diplomacy
China’s Xi Jinping expected to visit North Korea as early as next week
The news comes hard on the heels of visits to Beijing by the presidents of the United States and Russia.
7
Presidents Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin wave to a group of children at a welcome ceremony for the Russian leader in Beijing on May 20. Photo: Pool via AFP
Diplomacy
Xi-Putin meeting: everything you need to know from the Beijing talks
From Putin’s ‘second home’ to his reunion with a Chinese engineer, here’s all you need to know from the Beijing meeting.
Presidents Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin shake hands during a signing ceremony at the Great Hall of the People, in Beijing on May 20. Photo: EPA
Diplomacy
Substance for Putin, ‘face’ for Trump as China, Russia deepen strategic alliance
Signing of over 40 agreements during Beijing summit between Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin cements ‘historical peak’ in China-Russia ties.
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China and Russia say the Golden Dome missile defence system initiated by US President Donald Trump would have “serious negative consequences for international security”. Photo: AP
Military
China and Russia warn US Golden Dome poses ‘clear threat’ to stability
Days after Xi-Trump talks, Beijing and Moscow slam Washington’s military provocations and its plans for missile defence system.
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Russian President Vladimir Putin (right) and Chinese President Xi Jinping (left) walk together during their meeting in Beijing on May 20, 2026. Photo: EPA/ Sputnik/ Kremlin Pool
Science
How China and Russia could team up to shift global science ‘centre of gravity’
Scientists say they hope Xi-Putin summit will bring more support for collaboration as Moscow and Beijing sign deals on tech and innovation.
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Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping. Photo: Pool/AP
China Economy
Daily Pulse|Xi-Putin summit leaves gas pipeline plan in limbo
A presidential summit in Beijing did little to advance plans to build Power of Siberia 2 even as the two leaders reiterated their nations’ strong ties.
Russian President Vladimir Putin poses for a photo with then 12-year-old Peng Pai and members of Peng’s family, in Beijing’s Beihai Park on July 17, 2000. Photo: Baidu
Diplomacy
How Putin’s chance encounter with a Chinese boy in Beijing shaped a life
Over 25 years ago, a young boy in Beihai Park caught the attention of Russia’s then new president as he visited China for the first time.
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Visitors learn about an oil and gas exploration system at the 10th China-Russia Expo in Harbin, northeast China’s Heilongjiang province, on Monday. Photo: Xinhua
China Economy
China turns to Russian oil as Gulf supply drops – but is it too expensive?
Prices are rising as demand for Russian supply spikes amid Middle East instability.
The historic guest villas are situated within the tranquil Diaoyutai Scenic Area in the western suburbs of Beijing. Photo: Shutterstock
Politics
Inside the royal garden that is Putin’s ‘second home’ in China
More than 1,400 heads of state have stayed in the compound, with the Russian president usually accommodated in its most prestigious villa.
1
Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian leader Vladimir Putin attend a welcome ceremony in Beijing on Wednesday. Photo: AP
Diplomacy
Xi and Putin’s united front – from tigers to trade: the summit takeaways
The Chinese and Russian leaders are holding talks in Beijing, soon after Trump’s visit.
2
Live
Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping shake hands during a signing ceremony at the Great Hall of the People. Photo: Pool via AP
Diplomacy
Live
Xi-Putin summit live: no shadow from US as leaders tackle Iran, Ukraine over tea
Russian president has travelled to the Chinese capital just days after US leader Donald Trump’s visit.
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Chinese President Xi Jinping and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin in Moscow in March 2013, during Xi’s first foreign trip as China’s leader. Photo: AFP
Diplomacy
Why China-Russia ties outpace Beijing’s engagement with Washington
Donald Trump’s recent state visit appears unlikely to fundamentally reshape or overshadow broader agenda of Sino-Russian cooperation.
3
Opinion
As I see it|How China wins by avoiding war
Trump, Putin and Netanyahu have all gone to war to prove how strong and powerful they are. The results should give any strongman pause.
SCMP ColumnistAlex Lo
6
Editorial|Xi-Putin summit is no less important than Xi-Trump talks
China does not see a stabilised relationship with Russia only as leverage against the US but as positive for world stability and peace.
SCMP Editorial
1
Editorial|Energy will be high on Xi-Putin summit agenda
Amid Iran war disruptions, Russia wants to lock in deals at higher prices while China wants alternative energy sources.
SCMP Editorial
As I see it|Why Donald Trump now needs a ‘forever war’
The US president and America are starting to understand you can’t go fascist at home and imperialist abroad halfway.
SCMP ColumnistAlex Lo
24
My Take|China and the UN are not the problem in Ukraine and Palestine – the West is
Europe and America’s warmongering and genocide-enabling are at the roots of the world’s most dangerous geopolitical flashpoints.
SCMP ColumnistAlex Lo
37
Editorial|Xi’s same-day calls with Trump and Putin showcase head-of-state diplomacy
At a time of geopolitical uncertainty, the extraordinary back-to-back conversations with the leaders of Russia and the US highlight Xi’s diplomatic approach.
SCMP Editorial
As I see it|How Donald Trump could break up Canada
While the US president has focused on intimidating Canada’s federal officials, he might be better served by concentrating on Alberta.
SCMP ColumnistAlex Lo
6
As I see it|Welcome, world, to the American jungle
Far from deterring China and Russia, the operation signals that brute force, not international law, now defines American action.
SCMP ColumnistAlex Lo
20
As I see it|Russia will end the European Union, not the other way around
The end of history is more history, as Hegel might have said, with the postmodern unified EU potentially reverting back to rival modern states.
SCMP ColumnistAlex Lo
50
Editorial|Hong Kong must stay united on long road to recovery from Tai Po fire tragedy
In addition to comforting individuals and rebuilding homes, the city will need to come together to overcome the collective trauma it has faced.
SCMP Editorial
My Take|Kim Jong-un in Beijing shows why it is good to have nuclear bombs
The essential difference between the North Korean leader and Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is that between the haves and the have-nots of the ultimate weapon.
SCMP ColumnistAlex Lo
3
Macroscope|Shanghai spirit for new world order needs to be matched by the West
SCO summit’s vision can’t be implemented without the requisite monetary and financial systems in place. The West must play a role if the world is not to fragment into blocs.
Anthony Rowley
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