U.S. Highlights 'Striking' Admission From Putin About Ukraine War

The U.S. State Department has described as "curious" President Vladimir Putin's admission that his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping had raised concerns about his invasion of Ukraine.

While there were warm words exchanged between Putin and the Chinese leader in Uzbekistan on Thursday in their first face-to-face meeting since the war began, Putin hinted that Moscow did not have the full support of his ally.

After they spoke on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) a video has gone viral of Putin telling Xi that Russia "understands your questions and concerns" about Ukraine.

The comments by Putin have raised questions about the dynamic of the relationship between Russia and China.

While Beijing has given Russia diplomatic support since the war began, and accused the U.S. of provoking Putin into action by NATO expansion, Xi has not done anything to help Russia's military.

State Department spokesman Ned Price told reporters on Thursday "what is striking is President Putin's apparent admission, at least as stated in the media, that President Xi has concerns about Russia's war against Ukraine."

"It's not surprising that the PRC apparently has such concerns. It is somewhat curious that President Putin would be the one to admit it...so openly."

Price added that China has used "verbal" and "geopolitical gymnastics" to avoid criticizing Russia's war against Ukraine.

But if the invasion is framed as "a blatant assault on Ukraine's sovereignty," this would be "at odds with everything the PRC has purported to believe in over the course of decades now," said Price.

The former U.S. ambassador to Moscow, Michael McFaul, tweeted that it was "remarkable" that the Chinese leader "is not supporting Putin" and offering "no real words of solidarity" during the meeting. Notably, China's readout of the meeting did not mention Ukraine by name.

Steve Tsang, director of the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) China Institute in London, said he thought Xi had given his full support to Putin before the invasion on the proviso that his war aims would be accomplished quickly at a low cost to China.

"Putin has clearly failed to deliver," he told Newsweek, "why should anyone be surprised that Xi articulated some form of disappointment and concern to Putin?"

Tsang said that the meeting between the leaders did not imply a change in Beijing's policy, which is to declare neutrality, support Putin but pay no price.

"We are not going to see Xi abandoning Putin as Xi would not want to see Putin potentially losing power because of a bad policy mistake. But it also means that Xi wants his pound of flesh."

This means China supporting Russia, but not in a way that will trigger secondary sanctions, and Beijing will want cheap Russian energy in return. Xi may also ask Putin to minimize any economic fallout that can adversely affect China.

"Xi probably also got Putin to play nice at the SCO summit, giving the impression that Xi is really the big man of the moment," Tsang said. This would play well domestically for Xi in the run up to the National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party, which takes place later this year, he added.

Xi is expected to secure a historic third term as leader at the national congress in October.

Newsweek has reached out to the Chinese and Russian foreign ministries.