Putin May Visit China in May Amid Planned Trump Trip

Russian President Vladimir Putin could visit China in May, potentially around the same time as a planned trip by US President Donald Trump, Russian media reported. Make us preferred on Google Share Facebook X (Twitter) LinkedIn Bluesky Email Copy Copied In this pool photograph distributed by the Russian state agency Sputnik, (2nd L-R) Russia's President Vladimir Putin walks with China's President Xi Jinping and North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un before a military parade marking the 80th anniversary of victory over Japan and the end of World War II, in Beijing?s Tiananmen Square on September 3, 2025. (Photo by Alexander KAZAKOV / POOL / AFP) Content Share Facebook X (Twitter) LinkedIn Bluesky Email Copy Copied Flip Make us preferred on Google Russian President Vladimir Putin may travel to China in the second half of May, according to Russian media reports citing sources familiar with preparations for the visit. Russian outlet Vedomosti reported on Wednesday, April 15, that tentative dates are being discussed for the week starting May 18, though the schedule has not been finalized. Follow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official . Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov confirmed preparations are underway but said the exact timing would be announced later. “The visit to China is being prepared. The dates will be announced in due course,” Peskov said. The potential trip would coincide with a reported visit by Donald Trump to China on May 14-15, though Beijing has not confirmed those plans. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov arrived in China on Wednesday for talks with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, during which both sides discussed upcoming high-level contacts. Lavrov said the leaders’ meetings had already been “specifically planned,” adding that the talks aimed to discuss them “in detail.” China’s Foreign Ministry did not provide details of the discussions, though Wang said bilateral relations continue to strengthen despite global challenges. According to Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov, Putin is expected to visit China at least twice in 2026, including a planned trip to an Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in November. He may also visit Kazakhstan in late May, where a meeting of the Eurasian Economic Council is scheduled. Other Topics of Interest Russia Fires 324 Drones, Killing 1; Zelensky Warns of More Strikes, Patriot Delays Loom Earlier in the day, at a press conference in Norway, Zelensky warned of a possible overnight Russian strike and potential delays in Patriot missile deliveries. Putin last traveled to China in late August – early September 2025, combining visits for a Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit and World War II anniversary events. The reported timing of Putin’s trip comes amid uncertainty over Trump’s planned visit to China, which was reportedly postponed from March due to geopolitical tensions . The Trump-Xi meeting had originally been conceived as a high-level effort to stabilize US-China ties, with trade expected to dominate the agenda. Before the latest uncertainty, the trip had been framed as a chance to preserve a fragile trade truce and steady relations between the world’s two biggest economies after months of tension. Yuliia Zavadska is a news writer at Kyiv Post. She has experience in breaking news coverage, fact-checking, and digital journalism, with a focus on fast, accurate reporting and clear storytelling. Before joining Kyiv Post, she worked as a news feed editor for several leading Ukrainian media outlets.