Putin's visit to China to take place in 'very near future,' Kremlin says

Russian President Vladimir Putin will be visiting China in the very near future, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Thursday.

Speaking at a press briefing in Moscow, Peskov said the exact dates will be announced soon and in coordination with the Chinese side.

“We will announce them shortly. This visit is being prepared. One can say that preparations are already complete, with only final touches remaining. It will take place in the very near future,” he said.

The most recent known meeting between Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping took place on Feb. 4, 2026, in the form of a video conference.

During the meeting, the Russian and Chinese presidents discussed bilateral cooperation, global security, and coordination on major international issues, including economic ties and strategic stability.

Asked about possible Russian-Chinese contacts following the visit of the American leader, Peskov said the Russian leadership expects contacts with Chinese President Xi Jinping regardless of Donald Trump’s visit to Beijing.

Commenting on the appointment of lawmaker Yana Lantratova as Russia’s new human rights commissioner, Peskov said Vladimir Putin plans to meet with her.

Regarding the exchange of war prisoners announced by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Peskov said Russia and Ukraine are preparing for the swap and are currently coordinating the lists.

“Work is underway to coordinate the lists. This is the most difficult part of the process, and it is moving forward very quickly,” he said.

Turning to the possibility of EU countries acting as mediators between Russia and Ukraine, Peskov argued that Europe is "effectively directly" involved in the conflict on Ukraine’s side, making any mediating role impossible.

“They are now effectively directly participating in the war on the side of the Kyiv regime and are rather advocates of the idea of inflicting a ‘crushing blow’ and a ‘crushing defeat’ on Russia. Of course, with such an approach, it is hardly possible to claim a mediating role,” he added.

Commenting on Russia’s test of the Sarmat intercontinental ballistic missile, Peskov said there had been no official reaction from foreign states, although there had been considerable “noise” in the media.

“Some are saying they refuse to recognise the reality that the Russians have indeed managed to guarantee their security for many years ahead, which is true. Others are trying, so to speak, to downplay the technical characteristics of the Sarmat, which is not true,” he explained.

Asked about the situation surrounding energy trade with India, Peskov said there are still many buyers interested in Russian energy resources despite all restrictions.

“Russia continues to remain a seller of oil and petroleum products -- a reliable seller that always fulfils its obligations,” he stressed.

Responding to a request to comment on the corruption case involving the former head of Zelenskyy’s office, Andriy Yermak, the Kremlin spokesman said Russia is not closely following developments.

"We are not following it particularly closely. It is not on our agenda. It is more a problem -- if the court indeed proves it was corruption -- for the Kyiv regime itself and for those who gave it money, meaning those whose money was stolen,” he said.

In his view, the case against Yermak will not affect the peace settlement process between Moscow and Kyiv.