Putin meets Xi to strengthen increasingly unbalanced relations (lemonde.fr)

• Putin and Xi met on May 19-20, 2026, in Beijing.
• Russia seeks to use the Iran conflict to promote a gas pipeline.
• The power dynamic between Russia and China is described as increasingly one-sided.

"During his two-day visit to China, Putin aims to leverage the war in Iran to advance a gas pipeline project. The meeting highlights the growing imbalance in Russia-China ties."