Putin and XI Declare Ties 'More Solid' as Trump Warns Moscow and Beijing Against Arming Iran

Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping have reaffirmed the strength of Russia and China's strategic partnership. They met face to face for the first time since May as Donald Trump's warning against arming Iran remains part of the wider geopolitical backdrop.

The two leaders met on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, on Monday. Xi told Putin he was 'happy' to meet again, adding that bilateral ties between Beijing and Moscow had grown 'more solid'.

'Even Brighter' Prospects, Xi Says

Xi said there were 'even brighter' prospects ahead for the relationship. He acknowledged that the amount of uncertainty and unpredictability in the international order has obviously increased. Putin agreed, saying that cooperation is successfully developing on all fronts.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov later said the two leaders discussed the Ukraine war only 'in passing', focusing largely on economic ties.

China has repeatedly denied providing Russia with military support for its invasion of Ukraine. Meanwhile, Western governments have accused Beijing of providing economic and dual-use goods that have benefited Russia's defence-industrial base.

Trump's Iran Warning Still Looms

The summit comes about five weeks after Trump warned China and Russia against selling weapons to Iran. He said on his Truth Social platform that doing so would be very bad for them and certainly not in their best interests. Trump added that both Xi and Putin had personally told him they would not sell weapons to Iran.

That warning has taken on fresh weight since CIA Director John Ratcliffe made a rare, unannounced visit to Moscow on 25 August. CNN reported that the visit was used partly to encourage Russia to cut off economic and military support for Iran, citing people familiar with the matter.

The Kremlin confirmed that the visit took place but said Ratcliffe did not meet Putin directly. The Washington Post also reported on Ratcliffe's visit and said the purpose of the trip was initially unclear. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed that contacts had taken place between Russian and US intelligence officials.

The timing is notable because the SCO summit comes roughly six months into the war involving the United States, Israel and Iran. This is a conflict that Moscow and Tehran have both criticised. Russia has also maintained close military and economic ties with Iran, while the extent of its direct military involvement in the conflict has been disputed.

Modi and Pezeshkian Add to the Picture

Putin also met Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, arriving in the same car for scheduled talks. Modi said New Delhi was ready to work towards ending the Ukraine conflict. Putin replied that Moscow was following the path towards a resolution, without giving further detail.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, also in Bishkek, told Modi that they continue to strive for a path of agreement and understanding. He stated his belief that continuing the war is neither in their interest, nor in the interest of the region.

More than a dozen heads of state attended the two-day summit, which marks the SCO's 25th anniversary.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan took part as a dialogue partner, alongside Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

The Bishkek summit highlights the growing overlap between the Ukraine and Iran conflicts in US foreign-policy calculations.

Trump's warning and Ratcliffe's Moscow trip indicate that US officials remain concerned about Russia's relationship with Iran and the possibility of further military assistance to Tehran. China and Russia, however, have not been shown to be providing the specific weapons support to Iran that Trump warned against.

For readers, the stakes extend far beyond traditional diplomacy. Any shift in Russian or Chinese support for Iran could affect the trajectory of the US-Iran conflict, oil markets and the stalled peace process in Ukraine.

These developments are being closely monitored by Western governments as they consider further sanctions and diplomatic pressure on Moscow and Beijing.