Putin, Xi meet at SCO summit, discuss bilateral ties and Ukraine

Russian President Vladimir Putin met with Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in Bishkek on August 31, 2026. The meeting, described as "friendly and constructive," focused on bilateral ties between Russia and China.

The two leaders "superficially" discussed the "Ukraine crisis," a term Moscow uses for its invasion of Ukraine. Xi told Putin that under their "strategic guidance and joint efforts," the foundations of bilateral ties will be stronger, with brighter prospects. Xi added that China is willing to work with Russia and others to "strengthen the forces leading the reform of global governance and advancing an equal and orderly multipolar world."

The two-day summit brought together leaders from 10 member states, including Russia, China, India, Pakistan, Iran, Belarus, and Central Asian nations, along with other allies. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres were also expected attendees. President Putin was scheduled for separate bilateral meetings with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and other leaders.

Relations between Moscow and Beijing have strengthened since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. China is a significant buyer of Russian oil and a supplier of dual-use materials for Russia's military. Evidence suggests military cooperation, with over 200 Russian military personnel trained in China in 2025. Various agreements deepening strategic cooperation were signed during Putin's May 2026 visit to Beijing.

However, negotiations for the Power of Siberia-2 pipeline, intended to connect Russian and Chinese energy corporations, remain stalled. China is seeking lower rates and fixed volumes, a sticking point for years. The SCO summit also marked the organization's 25th anniversary. The Kremlin has utilized SCO summits to promote its narratives regarding the war in Ukraine, though member states have not adopted a unified stance on the conflict.