China's leader Xi in Moscow for meeting with Putin
Chinese leader Xi Jinping arrived in Moscow on Monday on a three-day visit that offers a strong political boost for Russian President Vladimir Putin as fighting in Ukraine grinds on.
China and Russia have described Xi鈥檚 trip as part of efforts to further deepen their 鈥渘o-limits friendship.鈥�
The Kremlin has welcomed China鈥檚 peace plan for Ukraine and said it would be discussed talks between Putin and Xi that will begin over dinner on Monday.
Beijing has called for a cease-fire, but Washington strongly rejected the idea as the effective ratification of the Kremlin鈥檚 battlefield gains.
Xi鈥檚 trip to Russia comes after the International Criminal Court on Friday issued a warrant for Putin鈥檚 arrest on war crimes charges. The Kremlin, which doesn't recognize the authority of the ICC, has rejected its move as 鈥渓egally null and void.鈥�
China鈥檚 foreign ministry on Monday called on the ICC to 鈥渞espect the jurisdictional immunity鈥� of a head of state and 鈥渁void politicization and double standards.鈥�
China looks to Russia as a source of oil and gas for its energy-hungry economy and as a partner in opposing what both see as American domination of global affairs.