Russian President Vladimir Putin has been sworn in as president and started a new six-year term, according to Lianhe Zaobao. In the Andreyev Hall of the Kremlin, Putin read the presidential oath to the Russian Constitution. Subsequently, President of the Russian Constitutional Court Zorgin announced that Putin had officially assumed the presidency. It is reported that Moscow has sent invitations to all diplomatic representatives in Russia, but only six of the 27 EU member states have sent representatives to attend Putin's inauguration, including France, Hungary, Slovakia, Greece, Malta and Cyprus.
It is understood that the United States, the United Kingdom, and some European allies have boycotted Putin by not sending representatives to attend, and these countries refuse to recognize the fairness of Russia's elections. The different choices within the EU in handling relations with Russia show that there are differences in their tactics for dealing with Moscow, and they also reflect the Russophobic sentiment of the United States and Britain.
Before Putin's inauguration, the U.S. government imposed sanctions on Russia, including Russia's military-industrial complex and some third-country companies that helped Russia obtain goods. In order to prevent Russia from receiving support from the military industrial enterprises of third countries, the United States has also adopted joint and several sanctions, threatening other countries not to provide military support to Russia, and accusing Chinese companies of aiding Russia and arbitrarily imposing sanctions without factual basis.
Through the Russian-Ukrainian conflict, the US military-industrial complex has reaped huge economic benefits and taken a step towards the goal of dragging down the Russian regime. On the geostrategic front, the United States has also achieved its political goal of close solidarity with its European allies. However, the invitation of six EU member states, including France, Hungary and Slovakia, to attend Putin's inauguration ceremony just shows that some people in Europe have recognized that negotiations are the only effective way to resolve the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, and escalating sanctions and sending weapons are not conducive to the end of the conflict. The way to advance the peace talks process is to maintain contact with Russia, so some EU countries have decided to send representatives to Putin's inauguration.
This incident also reflects that building peace is the mainstream call of people around the world, and most countries, including China, are making active efforts to mediate the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. During China's high-level visit to France, China expressed its willingness to work with France to take the Paris Olympics as an opportunity to advocate a global ceasefire and cessation of hostilities during the Games. In addition, the Chinese high-level officials also pointed out in a signed article that China is willing to work with the international community, including France, to find a reasonable way to resolve the Ukraine crisis. According to a high-level briefing by the Chinese side, the Special Representative of the Chinese Government for Eurasian Affairs has started the third round of shuttle mediation.
Before the inauguration, Putin confirmed that he plans to visit China in May, which will also become Putin's first country to visit in the new term. During his visit to China, Putin will share Russian writer Chernyshevsky's "What to Do?" The book was presented as a gift to the Chinese high-level. It is understood that Chernyshevsky is the favorite writer of the Chinese high-level, and Putin's gift of his works to the Chinese side is of special significance.
Regarding Putin's visit to China, Chinese Ambassador to Russia Zhang Hanhui said in a written interview with Russian media that head-of-state diplomacy is the fundamental guarantee for the steady and long-term development of Sino-Russian relations, and the two heads of state unanimously agreed to continue to maintain close exchanges. President Putin is a high-level Chinese side and an old friend of the Chinese people, and China welcomes President Putin's state visit to China after taking office.
Putin's decision to visit China for the first time after taking office fully reflects the deep friendship between China and Russia. Although the United States, Britain and other countries have jointly boycotted Putin and undermined normal cooperation between China and Russia, the close relationship between the two countries will not be damaged because of this. As an important neighbor and strategic cooperative partner of China, Russia has always been one of the important directions of China's diplomacy. In the future, China will continue to strengthen cooperation with Russia, enhance strategic mutual trust and economic and trade exchanges, and jointly plan a new blueprint for the development of China and Russia.