Ukraine-Russia war latest: Xi warns Putin that world at risk of reverting to ‘law of the jungle’ at Beijing summit

Xi Jinping told Vladimir Putin that the “world risks returning to the law of the jungle” as he urged the importance of cooperation with Russia during a summit in Beijing.

The Chinese and Russian leaders agreed on Wednesday to further extend their wide-ranging bilateral treaty of cooperation, the so-called Treaty of Good-Neighborliness and Friendly Cooperation.

“Today, the international landscape is undergoing momentous changes and the world risks returning to the law of the jungle,” Xi told his Russian counterpart, adding that in this new world, the treaty has further proven its relevance.

Xi told reporters that China and Russia should together oppose “all unilateral bullying and actions that reverse history” and vowed wider cooperation in AI and technology innovation.

The pair are later expected to meet for an informal tea session to discuss foreign issues, days after Xi met with US president Donald Trump to address the war in Iran.Two more Russian industrial sites set ablaze

Two industrial sites in Russia's Nizhny Novgorod region were on fire on Wednesday, after a drone attack, the regional governor said in a statement.

James Reynolds20 May 2026 08:00What to expect from the Putin-Xi summit

Russian President Vladimir Putin met his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping in Beijing on Wednesday, days after Xi had talks with US President Donald Trump.

Here’s what to expect:

- The leaders will sign joint statements and a number of other bilateral agreements, with economic cooperation in focus.

- They they have an opening ceremony for a bilateral education initiative.

- Putin will meet Chinese premier Li Qiang to discuss trade and more economic cooperation.

- Putin and Xi will have a tea session to discussion foreign issues, according to a Kremlin aide.

Kirill Dmitriev, head of Russia’s sovereign wealth fund, said Russia is also considering the possibility of joint projects with the US and China.

James Reynolds20 May 2026 07:30Putin's large-scale meeting with Xi has ended

China’s China Central Television is reporting that the large-scale meeting between Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping has ended.

James Reynolds20 May 2026 07:17Russian attacks kill two in Ukraine

At least two people were killed and 19 injured in Russia attacks ⁠on Ukraine overnight, local officials said this morning, while Ukraine sent drones to strike industrial areas in central Russia.

In Ukraine, two people were dead and six injured after Russia hit the southeastern city of Dnipro with missiles, drones and artillery, local authorities said ⁠on Telegram.

Another 13 injuries were reported ​in ⁠the northern Sumy region and the southeastern region of Zaporizhzhia, including three children, authorities added.

Russia's defence ministry claimed its forces downed 273 ⁠drones over the country overnight, TASS state news agency said.

In Russia, drones attacked industrial areas around Nevinnomyssk in the southern Stavropol region, its governor said on Telegram, adding there was no damage reported so far but the attacks were continuing.

The area is home to Nevinnomyssky Azot, a large chemical plant, which has been a target of drone attacks from Ukraine before.

Arpan Rai20 May 2026 06:57Trump's envoy Witkoff to visit Russia soon, announces Kremlin

US president Donald ⁠Trump's envoy Steve Witkoff ⁠will ​visit ⁠Russia in ⁠the "near ​future", according to a senior Russian official.

Vladimir Putin's special ‌envoy, Kirill ⁠Dmitriev, made the remark during Vladimir Putin's visit to China on Wednesday, according to a Kremlin ⁠pool ‌reporter.

Dmitriev has been a key figure in talks between the US and Russia aimed at ending the war in Ukraine.

Arpan Rai20 May 2026 06:41Nato officer doesn't expect more American drawdowns beyond the 5,000 troops

Nato’s top military officer said he doesn't expect any more drawdowns of American troops from Europe — at least not anytime soon — beyond the 5,000 that US president Donald Trump announced would leave the continent.

The remarks by US Lt. Gen. Alex Grynkewich follow Trump's surprise announcement of the move early this month. The US leader has bickered with allies over the Iran war and called for changes.

The Pentagon later said it would draw down thousands of troops in Europe by canceling deployments to Poland and Germany as opposed to yanking out forces already stationed there.

Trump's announcement blindsided Nato and came despite US promises to coordinate military moves with its allies and avoid creating security gaps.

Arpan Rai20 May 2026 06:32Putin and Xi wrap up first meeting with statements hailing mutual relations

Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping have wrapped up the first meeting of their summit in Beijing, where they exchanged warm words regarding their two countries' relationship.

The two lauded the progress in their strategic ties, as they met in Beijing for summit talks where Moscow is expected to push for stronger energy links.

Here’s what Xi and Putin told each other:Putin called the talks substantial, and told Xi that his aim is to enhance the well-being of both Russians and the Chinese people Putin called the bilateral partnership “exemplary” and vowed to continue its development Xi told Putin that China and Russia relations had entered a new stage progress and that their foundation of mutual trust is growing stronger The Chinese leader said he would unswervingly promote long-term, healthy and stable development Putin assured Xi that the two countries would work together on international platforms

Arpan Rai20 May 2026 06:25Russians realise they aren’t safe as Ukrainian drone attacks on Moscow bring war close to home

It’s getting harder for officials in the Kremlin to cast the war in Ukraine – now in its fifth year – as something so distant that it doesn’t affect the daily routines of Russian civilians.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky cast the attack in Moscow’s suburbs as a just retribution for the relentless and deadly Russian missile and drone strikes on the capital of Kyiv and other cities last week.

Arpan Rai20 May 2026 06:15Russians covertly trained by China return to fight in Ukraine – report

The covert training sessions, which predominantly focused on the use of drones, were outlined in a dual-language Russian-Chinese agreement signed by senior Russian and Chinese officers in Beijing on 2 July last year.

While China and Russia have held a number of joint military exercises since Moscow's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Beijing has repeatedly stated that it is neutral in the conflict and presents itself as a peace mediator.

The agreement also said hundreds of Chinese troops would undergo training at military facilities in Russia. By training Russian military personnel at an operational and tactical level who then participate in Ukraine, China is far more directly involved in the war on the European continent than previously known, one intelligence official said.

The Russian and Chinese defence ministries did not respond to requests for comment on the details outlined in this article.

"Relevant parties should not deliberately stoke ⁠confrontation or shift blame."

The intelligence agencies spoke on condition they not be identified in order to discuss sensitive information.

Arpan Rai20 May 2026 06:03EU considering Draghi or Merkel for potential talks with Putin to end war in Ukraine – report

European Union governments are discussing whether former European Central Bank president Mario Draghi, or former German chancellor Angela Merkel, could represent the bloc in potential negotiations with Russian president Vladimir Putin, the Financial Times reported this morning.

Foreign ministers ‌will discuss the merits of ⁠possible candidates at an EU meeting in Cyprus next week, the report said, citing ‌people familiar with ​the ‌matter.

The Independent has not verified the report.

Arpan Rai20 May 2026 05:24