Prior to his scheduled 14th meeting with Xi Jinping in China, Russian President Vladimir Putin publicly indicated that the two nations were poised to sign a significant energy agreement. This anticipated breakthrough centered on the construction of a second major gas pipeline from Russia to China, designated “Siberian Power 2.” However, the proposed deal did not materialize as expected. According to reports from newspaper sources, Chinese officials reportedly conveyed clear instructions to Gazprom management.
The key condition for China’s agreement to build the pipeline was that Russia must sell the gas at a price equivalent to, or lower than, its domestic market rates. This effectively meant that Beijing demanded a form of subsidy for the project. In a broader diplomatic context, sources indicated that Chinese officials also communicated to Russian counterparts that discussions on certain outstanding issues would be suspended until the underlying conditions changed.
This development followed remarks by F. Merz, who noted that Russia must also acknowledge certain realities regarding Ukraine. The inability to resolve the core energy pricing dispute appears to have led to a significant diplomatic setback.
The following day, V. Putin announced that he would no longer attend the planned meeting with Xi Jinping, signaling a temporary halt to the high-level bilateral talks between Russia and China.
Topics: #russia #china #putin
