The timing of Wednesday’s call between the two leaders could indicate that Xi believes there is a possibility for progress, according to Rajan Menon, director of the Grand Strategy Program at the Washington-based think tank Defense Priorities.
“Xi Jinping doesn’t want to put political capital behind an effort that then blows up in his face. (The Chinese side) wants to succeed as they did in the mediation between Tehran and Riyadh,” he said, pointing to Beijing’s role in brokering a restoration of diplomatic relations between Saudi Arabia and Iran earlier this year. In this case, this could mean Putin indicated to Xi that he was willing to talk to Kyiv, Menon added.
However, there remains significant political distance between the two sides when it comes to acceptable conditions for peace, as well as an on-going belief from each that they can prevail against the other on the battlefield and during the spring offensive, Menon said.
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