Did Xi Jinping Refuse to Wave to Putin? What We Know
January 21, 2025
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Russian President Vladimir Putin smiled and waved to his Chinese counterpart during virtual talks on Tuesday, and some are questioning on social media whether Xi Jinping reciprocated the gesture.
The Kremlin released an edited video of the exchange that has been widely shared on social media.
Newsweek reached out to the Russian Foreign Ministry for comment via email on Tuesday.
Russian President Vladimir Putin holds a video call with Chinese President Xi Jinping at the Novo-Ogaryovo state residence outside Moscow on January 21, 2025. Russian President Vladimir Putin holds a video call with Chinese President Xi Jinping at the Novo-Ogaryovo state residence outside Moscow on January 21, 2025. GAVRIIL GRIGOROV/POOL/AFP/Getty Images
Why It Matters
The video shared by the Kremlin appears to have been poorly edited, and Xi can be seen raising his hand before the camera pans to Putin. The clip is being shared by accounts with large followings on social media. The pair have maintained close ties since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022. Xi is Putin’s closest major ally, and the Russian leader has said they call each other friends.
What To Know
Russian presidential aide Yuri Ushakov said the pair held “very detailed” talks in a “friendly atmosphere” on Tuesday. They discussed in detail bilateral and international issues, he said.
An 8-second clip published by the Kremlin of their opening interactions appears to show a slightly awkward Xi after Putin smiles and waves at him. Xi visibly raises his hand in response to Putin’s wave, but the edit cuts him off abruptly and pans back to the Russian president.
Anton Gerashchenko, a former adviser to Ukraine’s minister of internal affairs, said on X, formerly Twitter, where he has more than 600,000 followers, that Xi “did not reciprocate” Putin’s gesture.
Commenting on his post, one X user said: “OMG!!! I can’t believe Xi didn’t wave back. Their relationship is over now. Putin is done.”
Russian state-run news agency RT shared the same clip but said the two leaders smiled and waved to each other in their video call meeting.
In an interview with Chinese state media in October 2023, Putin said Xi “calls me his friend, and I call him my friend.”
The Russian president added that there is a saying, “Tell me who your friend is, and I will tell you who you are.” He went on: “Therefore, if I now praise Chairman Xi Jinping, I will feel somehow uncomfortable—it’s like I’m praising myself. So I’ll try to be objective.”
Putin described his Chinese counterpart as “one of the recognized world leaders” who does not “make a momentary decision based on some current situation, he assesses the situation, analyzes and looks into the future.”
What People Are Saying
Russian state-run news agency RT, on X on Tuesday: “Putin and Xi smile and wave to each other in video call meeting.”
Anton Gerashchenko, a former adviser to Ukraine’s minister of internal affairs, on X: “Putin and Xi Jinping had a video phone call. Putin waved. Xi Jinping did not reciprocate the gesture.”
China’s foreign ministry, on X: “President Xi expressed readiness to work with President Putin in the year ahead to take China-Russia relations to new heights, to address external uncertainties with stable and resilient bilateral relations, to promote the development and invigoration of both countries, and to uphold international fairness and justice.”
What Happens Next?
Xi told Putin he will strive to bring China-Russia relations to “new heights” this year.
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