Putin steps up war against Ukraine after Beijing visit — The Times

Russian President Vladimir Putin has launched a new phase of the war against Ukraine following his return from Beijing, The Times reports.

According to the outlet, Putin’s confidence appears to have grown significantly after talks with Chinese leader Xi Jinping, during which the two discussed prospects for deeper cooperation.

This was underscored by one of the largest air assaults on Kyiv since the start of the war, which included a strike on a government building— the first such attack in more than three years of full-scale conflict. Hardliners in Russia have long urged strikes on Ukraine’s decision-making centers.

The Times also noted that Beijing has become an important stage for Putin’s diplomatic manoeuvring. The Russian president hailed ties with China as at an “unprecedentedly high level.”

During a military parade in Beijing marking the 80th anniversary of victory over Japan in World War II, Putin sat to the right of Xi Jinping. They observed the event alongside North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. It marked the first time since the Cold War that the leaders of Russia, China, and North Korea appeared together on such an occasion.

By Khagan Isayev