Ukraine accuses Russia of violating its own cease-fire more than 700 times
PBS NewsHourMAY 21
Xi, Putin Pledge to Stand Together Against the US
Above: Vladimir Putin (R) and Xi Jinping exchange documents during a signing ceremony at the Kremlin in Moscow on May 8, 2025. Image copyright: Contributor/AFP via Getty Images
The Spin
Establishment-critical narrative
Russia and China share a brotherhood of fighting alongside each other. As the U.S. has threatened the stability of international trade and supply chains as well as peace and stability in the Middle East, it's now up to Moscow and Beijing to secure multilateral trade and counteract modern manifestations of neo-Nazism and militarism.
Pro-establishment narrative
The Xi-Putin alliance undermines democratic values and international norms. By supporting each other's authoritarian regimes, they challenge the U.S.-led liberal order. This partnership risks escalating global tensions and eroding human rights standards, potentially destabilizing regions like Taiwan and Ukraine.