Three key takeaways from Putin's Beijing trip — and what they reveal about China-Russia ties

In this pool photograph distributed by the Russian state agency Sputnik, Russia's President Vladimir Putin and China's President Xi Jinping tour a photo exhibition on Russia-China ties in Beijing on May 20, 2026. (Photo by Alexander KAZAKOV / POOL / AFP via Getty Images) Alexander Kazakov | Afp | Getty Images Russian President Vladimir Putin left Beijing Wednesday with declarations of enduring friendship with China and a stack of bilateral agreements — but without the energy pipeline …