Putin 'negotiated guarantees for his safety with President Xi in case he loses power,
China and a non-extradition agreement', Ukraine believes
- Putin welcomed Xi to Moscow last week for a summit watched warily by the West
- It came as the International Criminal Court charged Putin with war crimes
Vladimir Putin has negotiated guarantees for his safety with China's President Xi Jinping in case he is kicked out of power, Ukraine believes.
It is suspected that should he be deposed the Russian leader would shelter in China with a non-extradition agreement in place, meaning China would not send him abroad to face trial over charges of war crimes committed during his invasion.
Xi visited Moscow and met his despotic Russian counterpart last week, with the pair professing friendship and pledging closer ties, as Putin's forces continue to struggle to make gains in what it calls a 'special military operation' in Ukraine.
The full details of their conversations during the summit have not been released, but the meeting has been seen widely as China offering its backing to Putin as Western nations - such as the US, UK, Germany and other Nato allies - unite behind Ukraine.
Some analysts have also interpreted the meeting as a demonstration that Xi has greater power in the relationship, with Beijing having helped bail Russia out from under western sanctions imposed on Moscow's economy following the invasion.
Xi visited Moscow and met Putin last week (pictured together on March 21), where the pair professed friendship and pledged closer ties, as Putin's forces continue to struggle to make gains in what it calls a 'special military operation' in Ukraine
