Xi Jinping reaffirms China's dominance over Russia, warns Trump - former Ukrainian FM

He expressed confidence that Xi’s visit is meant to underscore China’s dominance over Russia and shatter US hopes of peeling Moscow away from Beijing.

“This is not about a celebration or military pomp,” Ohryzko said.

“Xi came to inspect the Kremlin, to define Putin’s limits, and to show Trump that Russia is already on China’s leash.”

Xi’s presence, accompanied by a Chinese military delegation marching through Red Square, demonstrates Beijing’s growing sway over Moscow. The visit coincided with renewed discussions of the Power of Siberia 2 gas pipeline — an infrastructure project that, as Ohryzko noted, will benefit China almost exclusively, as Russia is expected to finance it and sell gas at near-cost prices.

In a joint statement with Putin, Xi called for addressing the “root causes” of the war in Ukraine — language that closely mirrors Russian propaganda and suggests Beijing’s alignment with the Kremlin's narrative.

“This wasn’t a signal to Ukraine,” said Ohryzko.

“It was a message to Trump: forget any fantasies about wooing Russia away from China.”

He argues that China now plays the role of “senior partner” in the countries relationship, controlling key levers of the Russian economy and foreign policy. This positioning, Ohryzko added, confirms Beijing’s role in the authoritarian “axis of evil” seeking to counter Western democracy.

For the United States, and especially for President Trump — who has previously suggested he could broker peace in Ukraine — the visit limits strategic options. According to Ohryzko, the US now faces a binary choice: supply Ukraine with more weapons and impose severe sanctions on Russia, or risk losing leverage altogether.

“Trump promised during his campaign to punish those who don’t comply,” he said.

“Ukraine has done its part. Now the US must act — arm Ukraine and put Russia in its place.”