Devika Bhat

There have been reports this week, not fully stood up yet, that China might have even had a role in sort of helping with training of troops.

So even though it says it does not support Russia in this war, it is certainly making moves behind the scenes to help the Russian war effort.

And so it's possible those conversations will have been had behind the scenes.

One would have thought Putin will be kind of quizzing Xi on how the Trump visit went, because obviously the Trump-Putin relationship is also important for both parties.

Yeah, I think that's right.

I think the world is in a really kind of perilous state at the moment with these wars we are seeing, with the way the US has become such a volatile player and has proven time and time again it really cannot be relied upon in a way Europe might have once hoped.

And so pursuing the relationship with China, Europe has made clear is very important because it needs to be friends with other big bullies in the playground, if you like.

And I think this visit highlights that there are all sorts of problems in being friends with China.

You know, as we've we've talked about, we know that there's been this tacit support behind the scenes from which, of course, Europe has.

will be deeply uneasy about given the war in Ukraine happening on Europe's very doorstep.

And Ukraine itself is probably looking at this very closely too.

Not at all.

Thanks for having me.