The Kremlin denounced on Monday the "erroneous understanding" of relations between Moscow and Beijing on the part of Emmanuel Macron, after the French president had considered that Russia was entering "a form of vassalization with regard to China". "This approach is absolutely wrong and results from an absolutely erroneous understanding of the essence of what is happening" between the two powers, lashed out at Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov.
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Our relations with China are of the nature of a special strategic partnership," he said, saying he "categorically disagrees" with the position defended by Emmanuel Macron. In an interview with the French newspaper L'Opinion published on Sunday, the French head of state said that "Russia has already lost geopolitically" by conducting a military offensive in Ukraine. "It has de facto begun a form of vassalization towards China," he said.
"Taking mutual interests into account"
Dmitry Peskov said Monday that the relationship between Moscow and Beijing was about "taking into account mutual interests, mutual benefits, proximity to their worldviews, joint rejection of attempts to dictate (and) impose someone else's opinion on the development of our countries."
See alsoHow Russia became the "new vassal" of the Middle Kingdom
For nearly 15 months, China has never publicly condemned Moscow's military intervention in Ukraine, unlike the majority of the world's major powers. In mid-March, Chinese President Xi Jinping even went to Moscow for a highly acclaimed summit with his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, where the two leaders had displayed their unity with the West.
China, however, this week sent an envoy to Europe for "a political settlement of the Ukrainian crisis." In addition to visiting Russia, Poland, France and Germany, Li Hui will be in Ukraine on Tuesday and Wednesday, according to Kiev.