China’s Xi Providing ‘Diplomatic Cover’ for Russia With Moscow Meeting: Blinken

Secretary of State Antony Blinken speaks on the release of the 2022 Human Rights Report at the U.S. State Department in Washington, on March 20, 2023. Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images

WASHINGTON—By visiting Moscow to boost ties with Russia’s Vladimir Putin, Chinese leader Xi Jinping is demonstrating to the world his disregard for the “atrocities committed in Ukraine” and providing the isolated Russian leader with “diplomatic cover,” according to Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

Blinken made the remarks at a press conference on March 20 as he announced his department’s annual human rights report, just as Xi made his first visit to Moscow since Putin mounted a war in Ukraine last year. The two greeted each other as “dear friend” before dinner.