Xi’s visit highlights ties between Russia and Belarus

The state visit by China's leader Xi Jinping to Russia highlights close ties between the nations, a relationship that is increasingly crucial for Moscow as it is cut off from most of the West.

China is a key trading partner for Russia, buying up much of its oil exports while selling large volumes of products used by Russian civilians and military. It is one of a number of countries that have maintained good relations with Russia despite its invasion of Ukraine - some providing diplomatic or economic support, others military aid.

Russia s closest regional ally, Belarus became particularly dependent on Moscow after it helped President Aleksandr G. Lukashenko crush antigovernment protests in 2020. Mr. Lukashenko allowed Russia to use his country as an initial staging ground to invade Ukraine last year, and Russia has used Belarusian territory to train and supply its troops.

India is a major buyer of crude oil, helping Moscow make up for the loss of sales to European countries that have tried to reduce their dependence on Russian oil. India is friendly with both Ukraine and Russia, but it has not condemned Russia's invasion and has been seen as a potential peacemaker. Last week, a senior Indian official called for Europe to find a solution to the war and said it was distracting from the urgent issues facing the world's poor.