Days before Russia illegally and brutally invaded Ukraine, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping signed a “no limits” partnership, demonstrating their deepening relations. It has been a year since Putin’s full-scale invasion on February 24 and the relationship between China and Russia seems as strong as ever. While Xi has proposed a peace plan and wishes to remain neutral in the war, China has still yet to condemn Russia for the invasion. Meanwhile, Western officials are looking at the visit from Beijing’s most senior foreign policy official, Wang Yi, to Moscow this week as an indication of China’s continued support of Russia.  

Alexander Gabuev, one of the world’s foremost analysts of the Sino-Russian relationship, joins Stewart on the show to unpack how that relationship has changed since Putin’s invasion of Ukraine a year ago and the vision Xi and Putin share for a new world order. As the incoming director of the Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center, Alexander also discusses the future of Russia as a nation as well as how the war might end.  

1. Alexander Gabuev. (2022, August 9). "China's New Vassal." Foreign Affairs.