Putin and Xi to discuss 'aggressive' talk from U.S. and NATO, Kremlin says

[Boats]

Putin and Xi to discuss 'aggressive' talk from U.S. and NATO, Kremlin says
By: Reuters News - 12-14-21
Re: https://www.reuters.com/world/kremli...ll-2021-12-14/

Photo link: https://www.reuters.com/resizer/ALgy...UGLXMH2NSM.jpg
Russian President Vladimir Putin shakes hands with Chinese President Xi Jinping during their meeting on the sidelines of a BRICS summit, in Brasilia, Brazil, November 13, 2019. Sputnik/Ramil Sitdikov/Kremlin via REUTERS/File Photo

MOSCOW, Dec 14 (Reuters) - Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping will discuss tensions in Europe and "aggressive" U.S. and NATO rhetoric during a video call on Wednesday, the Kremlin said.

The conversation will take place at a moment of high tension in both countries' relations with the West, with Beijing under pressure over human rights and Moscow over its build-up of troops near the border with Ukraine.

"The situation in international affairs, especially on the European continent, is very, very tense right now and requires discussion between allies," Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said, referring to Moscow and Beijing.

"We see very, very aggressive rhetoric on the NATO and U.S. side, and this requires discussion between us and the Chinese."

Russia has cultivated closer ties with China as its relations with the West have worsened, and Putin has used the partnership as a way of balancing U.S. influence while striking lucrative deals, especially on energy. He and Xi this year agreed to extend a 20-year friendship and cooperation treaty.

Peskov said they would hold a long conversation with a broad agenda including energy, trade and investment.

Their discussion will take place eight days after a Russia-U.S. video call in which U.S. President Joe Biden warned Putin against invading Ukraine and Putin told him Russia needed legally binding security guarantees from the West.

About the writer(s): Reporting by Dmitry Antonov; Writing by Tom Balmforth and Mark Trevelyan; Editing by Alex Richardson

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Personal note: Neither one of them alone could beat the US in a conflict.
But thinking that two against one may be a better plan. These two don't
like each other but yet they both dislike the US and its politics - we've
know that for some time. The real issue is that neither of them trust
each other yet for some ungodly reason they think they can beat us and
NATO - if they work together.
-
Russia is more insecure today than ever - China really doesn't want
another war I sense this. All their gains will suffer from a conflict with
the US and its allies' should it come to that.
-
Saving face is one thing - saving your countries demise and its people
is another. Opportunities are readily available - but neither can kowtow
or come to any agreements without suffering any backlashes within
their countries.
-
We all will know that eventually we will have an exchange - but it won't
be fired first by the US - it depends on whether - or not - Russia or China
is stupid enough to push the button(s). North Korea and the
Middle East are still in play so we never know - how - when or where
the first shot will be fired.
-
I pray that this will never happen - but in reality there are so many
players in the field today - that could trip the wire - that will start the
worldwide destruction of mankind.