For Putin, this will be his 25th trip to China. Moscow and Beijing are portraying the two-day visit as confirmation of their “all-weather” partnership, despite Western pressure on China to use its influence over Russia to help end the war in Ukraine.
The moment came as Trump, visibly pleased by the exclusive tour, asked Xi whether other foreign leaders were usually received inside the compound.
Bloomberg, citing the South China Morning Post, reported the possible trip based on sources familiar with the preparations.
Russia’s crisis of public administration is becoming increasingly visible far from Moscow — in small cities, regional ministries and municipal offices where officials are expected to deliver federal targets with shrinking resources and growing legal risks.
Data for January-May 2026 suggest that pressure inside the banking system is no longer confined to small lenders.
In April 2026, 43% of respondents said they were closely following developments around the war in Ukraine, the lowest reading recorded by the pollster.
Russia is preparing to resume purchases of foreign currency for the National Wealth Fund for the first time since the start of the war in Ukraine.
An investigation by journalist Anastasia Kashevarova reveals a vast shadow network of “black recruiters” in Russia — corrupt intermediaries who forge documents, exploit vulnerable people, and trade soldiers between regions and units for profit.
According to Bloomberg, dozens of ships in tracking systems suddenly began appearing not at sea, but on land — deep inside the territory of the United Arab Emirates and near the border with Oman.
