WSJ: The leader Xi Jinping once called his ‘role model’ is now Beijing’s supplicant, and China is making Putin wait for the gas deal Moscow badly needs

Recent reports indicate a significant shift in the diplomatic and economic relationship between China and Russia. According to the Wall Street Journal and Meduza, Chinese leader Xi Jinping, who once described Vladimir Putin as his role model, now views the Russian leader as a supplicant. This change in dynamic is most evident in ongoing energy negotiations, where China is reportedly making Putin wait for a gas deal that Moscow badly needs. Novyny Ukrainy further specifies that China is pushing Russia to accept a deal for cheaper gas, a move that exposes Russia's increasing dependence on Beijing. The Wall Street Journal emphasizes the transition from Xi admiring Putin to actively managing him. This narrative of a shifting hierarchy is echoed by Livemint and the Hindustan Times, both of which characterize Putin as having moved into the position of a junior partner within the bilateral relationship.

These outlets highlight a perceived reversal of roles, where the previous mutual admiration has been replaced by a strategic imbalance that favors the Chinese administration. The reporting suggests that the economic leverage held by Beijing has fundamentally altered how the two leaders interact on the global stage. Contextualizing this shift, UNITED24 Media reports that China is already preparing for a post-Putin Russia. This strategic foresight suggests that Beijing is not merely managing current tensions over gas pricing but is looking toward a future where the Russian leadership may change. The necessity of the gas deal for Moscow creates a vulnerability that Beijing is utilizing to secure more favorable terms. This economic pressure is presented as a primary driver for the current state of affairs, turning a theoretical partnership into a relationship defined by dependence and negotiation from a position of weakness for the Kremlin.

Looking forward, observers are monitoring the finalization of the gas deal and whether Russia will concede to the cheaper pricing demanded by China. The coverage suggests that the outcome of these negotiations will serve as a barometer for the extent of Putin's current dependence on Xi Jinping. Additionally, the preparations mentioned by UNITED24 Media indicate that Beijing's long-term strategy involves positioning itself to maintain influence over Russia regardless of who leads in Moscow. The immediate focus remains on the energy sector and how the timing of the gas agreement reflects the current power disparity between the two nations.