Xi Jinping and Putin
(Picture: AP)Only Xi Jinping has the influence to persuade Vladimir Putin’s to end his invasion of Ukraine, the former head of MI6 has said.
With Russian forces continuing their attack on the country, Sir Alex Younger said Putin is “obsessed” with restoring the country’s empire.
The former career British intelligence officer claimed Xi will be “disturbed” by what is going on and may be able to exert “influence” on the Russian president.
Speaking on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, he said: “Of all the people in the world that can assert influence on Vladimir Putin, who is in his bunker and who is obsessed with achieving greatness through the restoration of the Russian Empire, of all the people that can talk sense to him, it’s Xi.
"Vladimir Putin needs Xi and of course Xi while he feels he has to align himself at the high level with what Russia is doing because of their new alliance, must be deeply disturbed by what is going on."
China has so far refused to condemn Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and stated the Kremlin’s security fears should be recognised by the West.
When the United Nations General Assembly voted to condemn Russia’s invasion last month, China was one of 35 countries to abstain.
The former head of MI6 added: “Putin does not have a reverse gear. He gambled. He has hit extraordinary difficulties early on but he’s going to keep going and he has to, because he went into this war with a false premise, and he needs to be seen to be bringing something back from it."
However, in a break from its neutral stance, China did support Ukraine’s defence of its sovereignty and claimed it has no wish to be sanctioned.
In a CNN interview, US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said: “There will absolutely be consequences for large-scale sanctions evasion efforts or support to Russia to backfill them.
"We will not allow that to go forward and allow there to be a lifeline to Russia from these economic sanctions from any country, anywhere in the world.”
Chinese officials rejected the report and said the US was spreading “disinformation”.
Peace talks were held between Ukrainian and Russian officials.
Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky claimed the negotiations had taken a more realistic turn.
