Russian President Vladimir Putin He smiled and waved at his Chinese counterpart during virtual talks on Tuesday, with some on social media wondering if… Xi Jinping Reciprocate the gesture.
The Kremlin released an edited video of the exchange that was widely shared on social media.
Newsweek I reached out to the Russian Foreign Ministry for comment via email on Tuesday.
Gavriel Grigorov/Pool/AFP/Getty Images
Why does it matter?
The video shared by the Kremlin appears to be poorly edited, and Xi can be seen raising his hand before the camera pans to Putin. The clip is shared through accounts with a large following on social media. The two men have maintained close ties since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022. Xi is Putin’s closest major ally, and the Russian leader has said they Call some friends.
What do you know?
Russian Presidential Assistant Yuri Ushakov said that the two leaders held “very detailed” talks in a “friendly atmosphere” on Tuesday. He added that they discussed in detail bilateral and international issues.
An 8-second clip released by the Kremlin of their opening interactions appears to show a slightly embarrassed Xi after Putin smiled and waved at him. Xi conspicuously raises his hand in response to Putin’s wave, but the edit abruptly interrupts him and returns to the Russian president.
Anton Gerashchenko, former advisor to the Ukrainian Minister of Internal Affairs, said on Channel X, previously twitterAs he has more than 600,000 followers, Xi “did not reciprocate” Putin’s gesture.
Commenting on his post, one user
Russian state-run news agency RT shared the same clip, but said the two leaders smiled and waved to each other in their meeting via video call.
In an interview with Chinese state media in October 2023Putin said that Xi “calls me his friend and I call him my friend.”
The Russian President added that there is a saying, “Tell me who your friend is, and I will tell you who you are.” He continued: “So, if I now praise President Xi Jinping, I will feel somewhat uncomfortable – as if I am praising myself. So I will try to be objective.”
Putin described his Chinese counterpart as “one of the recognized world leaders” who “does not make a temporary decision based on some current situation, but rather evaluates the situation, analyzes and looks to the future.”
What people say
Russian state news agency RT, On X Tuesday: “Putin and Xi smile and wave to each other in a video call meeting.”
Anton Gerashchenko, former advisor to the Ukrainian Interior Minister On X: “Putin and Xi Jinping had a video phone call. Putin waved. Xi Jinping did not respond to the gesture.”
Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, On X: “President Xi expressed his willingness to work with President Putin in the coming year to take China-Russia relations to new heights, address external uncertainties through stable and flexible bilateral relations, promote the development and revitalization of both countries, and uphold international justice.” And justice.”
What will happen next?
Xi told Putin that he would strive to take Sino-Russian relations to “new heights” this year.
