How China Became Russia's Economic Lifeline The upcoming summit between Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping is being touted as a celebration of their "no limits" partnership, but scratch beneath the surface, and it becomes clear that this relationship is increasingly one sided.
As the West tightens its economic noose around Russia's neck, Beijing has emerged as Moscow's unlikely lifeline – or perhaps, more accurately, its master.
Russia's trade with China has become a crucial component of Putin's strategy to circumvent Western sanctions.