The sit-down was to be unexpectedly mirrored in Kyiv, where Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida was en route to meet Putin's nemesis Volodymyr Zelensky.

China’s president has previewed his visit to Moscow by declaring that “no single country should dictate the international order”

The Russian president has lauded the strengthening relations between the two nations and joint efforts in building a multipolar world

"At the invitation of President Vladimir Putin of the Russian Federation, President Xi Jinping will pay a state visit to Russia from March 20 to 22," the ministry said in a statement.

Lloyd Austin and Mark Milley called up their Russian counterparts for the first time in months

No interceptor touched the American spy UAV that was approaching Crimea, Moscow has announced

The ongoing conflict with Ukraine is not about achieving some geopolitical gains, the president says

The battle for Bakhmut has become the focus of Russia's winter campaign to capture Ukraine's eastern region, with both sides describing it as Europe's bloodiest infantry battle since World War Two.

Moscow is reportedly using ship-to-ship transfers to shorten routes and boost exports to new customers

Trading companies say Washington “actively encouraged” them to re-engage in shipping crude, the outlet reported

The imports were worth almost Can$250 million (US 180 million) in 2021, according to the latest government data.

Economic cooperation between the two nations has been strengthening amid outside pressure