It's really interesting to talk about Sino-Russian relations. From the old territorial entanglements to the present, there are many turning points in the middle. On the Russian side, we used to think that China was a potential rival, especially on the border, and the problems left over from history made them mutter.
But the movement on the Ukrainian side over the past three years has slowly made them realize that China is not a threat, but a reliable partner.
Speaking of the background, Russia took action against Ukraine on February 24, 2022, and the whole world was looking at it. At the beginning, the Russian forces advanced very fast, the southern part of Helsinki took over the city on March 2, and the direction of Crimea was steadfastly controlled.
In the direction of Kiev in the north, they wanted to encircle it quickly, but supplies could not keep up. Ukraine blocked it with missiles and drones. The Russian army withdrew on March 29, leaving a lot of losses. Kharkiv Oblast struck back on September 6, Ukraine, Najium on the 10th, and Balakria on the 12th. The Russian troops dropped their equipment and ran away. On November 9, the West Bank of Kherson retreated, and Ukraine entered the city on the 11th. There was still a confrontation on the east bank.
The Battle of Bakhmut became hot in October 2022, with the Wagner Group leading the way. Ukraine defended it tightly. It was not until May 20, 2023 that the Russian army announced its occupation, which was all rubble. The summer counterattack in Ukraine was launched on June 4. Leopard 2 tanks and Bradley trucks were used to charge Zaporozhya. The Russian military was blocked by minefields and progress was slow. By September, only a few villages were captured.
August 6, Ukraine crossed Kursk, occupied the town of Suzha, the Russian army counterattacked, in September recovered, but Ukraine still guarded the area. March 2025, the Russian army in eastern Donetsk, tweeted the Moscow defense drone on May 23, and Kiev on October 26, was bombed by drones. Three years later, Russian tanks lost more than three thousand tanks, Ukraine relied on the NATO patriot system, missiles crashed the infrastructure of both sides, and the Crimean bridge on July 17, 2023.
This war is raging, the Russian economy is under sanctions, the United States and the European Union have frozen US$300 billion in assets, technology embargoes, and energy cannot be sold. Turn around to China and sell the bulk of oil and natural gas here. In 2023, oil will account for more than half. The natural gas pipeline will be opened in 2019, the volume will increase after 2022, and the price will still be low. Trade volume will be US$190.2 billion in 2022, 244.8 billion in 2024, and 106.48 billion in the first half of 2025. Although it has dropped, energy is stable. The RMB settlement ratio is high to avoid the trouble of the US dollar.
Putin said at the Valda conference on October 2, 2025 that the Russian Euroasian security concept and China's global governance initiative were linked, and the BRICS cooperated to build a new system. In this, through three years of lessons, before defending China's influence, the cooperation is now understandable. Border Black Blind Island in 2004, the 4300 km boundary in 2004, the suspicion is less. Russia is concerned about itself, the war occupied the early part of Helsinki surrounding Mariupol, the counterattack laid land, Bachemura shaved for eight months, wounded and wounded by tens of thousands of ruins.
In the past history of China and Russia, the Treaty of Aihui in 1858 and the Treaty of Beijing in 1860, Tsarist Russia robbed millions of square kilometers, the east of Ussuri in the north of Heilongjiang was gone, and the door to the northeast was opened. During the Anti-Japanese War, the Soviet Union provided loans for weapons and aircraft. In 1945, it sent troops to the northeast to destroy the Kwantung Army and equipped it to China. China signed an alliance in 1950, and Soviet experts built Anshan Iron and Steel Changchun Automobile Factory.
After 1953 disagreements, the 1959 withdrawal of experts nuclear aid. The 60s border exploded, the 1969 Treasure Island battle died over a hundred. 1991 the Soviet Union dissolved, 1992 Yeltsin visited China broke the ice. 2014 Crimea after sanctions, Russia sought China in May 400 billion gas deal, 2019 air win. 2022 Winter Olympics China-Russia met, said partners have no ceiling, no days of war opened.
Three years of battle, Western sanctions tightened, China-Russia tightened. Russian oil sold to China more than half, trade broke records. Putin 2025 security conference took Eurasia architecture, learn China's experience. Before defending China, now understand that China is relying on mountains. Cooperation is more than energy, Putin visited China on May 8, 2025 and signed a declaration on Trade investment in energy science and technology full package. Border bridge repair, railway lift, pipeline expansion. 2023 Western joint military exercises, 2024 Japan Sea anti-submarine, share drone parts air defense technology, plan six generations.
BRICS expands, and new banks lend more RMB. The Security Council rejected the Western proposal, and its stance on climate and food was the same. In 75 years, China and Russia have gone from enemies to ironies, with interests leading but equal foundations. Russia defends its defenses, China respects geography, and partners and non-alliance are stable. The more united the West surrounds it, the more united it is.
This change was catalyzed by three years of fighting. Russia won at the beginning, but then suffered losses in its counterattack, and its economy turned eastward. China buys steadily and avoids isolation. Putin reflected that he used to prevent mistakes, but now he cooperates correctly. In the future, energy will be deep, science and technology will be connected, and humanities will be frequent. It's good for the world pattern.
In the past three years, Russia has woken up from the war. I used to think that China would remember its old accounts. Now, China has helped stabilize the economy and tide over the difficulties. Trade data is on display, and cooperation is solid. In Putin's words, the lesson is clear, if we don't guard against China, we will achieve a win-win situation.