Russian Defense Minister Meets Chinese Military Official for the Second Time in 10 Days

Russian news agency Interfax reported that Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu held talks in Moscow today, Wednesday, with a senior Chinese military official. During the meeting with General Zhang Youxia, Vice Chairman of the Chinese Central Military Commission, Shoigu stated, "Unlike some aggressive Western countries, we are not forming a military bloc; the relations between Russia and China are a model of strategic interaction based on trust and respect." This is the second meeting between the two sides within ten days, following discussions that took place on the sidelines of a seminar attended by Shoigu in Beijing on October 30. Presidents Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping announced a "no-limits" partnership less than three weeks before Russia sent troops into Ukraine last year. China has refrained from criticizing Moscow's actions there, while the United States warns Beijing against supplying weapons to Russia.