President Putin To 'Clarify' Russia's Position In Ukraine When Receiving Xi Jinping's Visit

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov. (Wikimedia Commons/Kremlin.ru/men's

JAKARTA - President Vladimir Putin will provide a detailed "clarification" of Russia's point of view on the Ukrainian conflict, during President Xi Jinping's state visit to Russia which began on Monday, the Kremlin said.

In a phone call with reporters, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the two leaders would discuss the themes in the peace plan for Ukraine proposed by Beijing last month.

"In one way or another, the topics contained in this plan will definitely be touched on exchange of views on Ukraine between President Putin and President Xi," Peskov said.

"But here, of course, a complete clarification will be provided by President Putin, so that President Xi can get a direct view of the current moment from the Russian side," he said.

A 12-point paper from China, which calls for dialogue between the two sides, does not contain a roadmap to end the war, which is now entering its 13th month. Ukraine welcomed it with caution, but the United States underestimated it, given China's refusal to condemn the Russian invasion.

Chinese leader Xi Jinping arrived in Moscow at around 13.00 local time. He held an informal meeting with President Putin on Monday afternoon, followed by plans for dinner, before holding official talks tomorrow.

When asked if China could broker between Moscow and Washington, Peskov refused to answer directly.

"For now, we are seeing a continuing line to prevent a slowdown in hostilities. Washington, the US State Department and the US National Security Council are discussing this publicly and officially," he said.

Moscow accuses the United States and other Western countries of spreading weapons to Ukraine to provide Russia with "strategic defeats". Meanwhile, Washington and its allies say they are arming Ukraine, to help the country defend itself against an unwarranted Russian invasion and imperial-style land grabbing.

"The United States remains in its position, aiming to provoke further conflict, preventing a decrease in the intensity of hostilities and pumping weapons into Ukraine," Peskov said.