Putin slams western sanctions, seeks closer China ties ahead of SCO summit

Russian President Vladimir Putin launched a fierce attack on Western sanctions ahead of a landmark visit to China, warning that Russia’s economy is reeling from trade curbs and war costs. Arriving for an “unprecedented” four-day trip, Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping defended “non-discriminatory” global trade, signaling even deeper agricultural, energy, and industrial ties. The SCO summit in Tianjin gathers Iran, India, and others as Russia and China unite against Western pressure, boasting bilateral trade hitting $245 billion in 2024—largely in yuan and ruble—despite escalating U.S. sanctions threats over the Ukraine war.