Russian President Vladimir Putin visited Beijing for talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping on May 20, 2026, where the two leaders reaffirmed strategic cooperation and discussed the Power of Siberia-2 pipeline project. The pipeline would allow Russia to supply additional natural gas to China through Mongolia, helping Moscow offset losses in European markets due to Western sanctions. The two countries reached a 'general agreement' on basic terms, though no final deal was concluded, and analysts suggest Beijing is seeking price discounts and wants to avoid over-reliance on Russian energy.