The dangerous alliance of convenience between the dictators Xi and Putin – Paul Lendvai

During Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit to Moscow, which began on Monday, the two heads of state and “old friends” Xi and Vladimir Putin will meet for the 40th time to expand the “strategic cooperative partnership” between the two countries. It is no coincidence that Xi’s first trip abroad this year, after his triumphant third election as president to crown his rise to absolute ruler, leads to Moscow. The first personal meeting with Putin after his invasion of Ukraine is also a widely visible confirmation of the close alliance of convenience between the two countries and their common front against the United States.