Couldn't care less what a politician like Putin says in public while on an official state visit to China when he's desperate for support from the only economic lifeline he has left.
That is your translation of events and it is far from reality. Xi invited Putin to China. There is also the fact that Russia's economy is growing and the West's is collapsing, so who is begging who here? Russia has allies and Putin is free to visit Russia's allies whenever he pleases. It is called diplomacy, something that does not exist in the West.
I've browsed Russian geopolitics subs/social media in the past and they've never viewed China/Chinese people favorably before the war and I'm wondering why there's so many Russian simps in Chinese boards.
I find it weird that you are searching Russian social media to find nice things being said about China, but regardless of what you found or claim to have found, that has absolutely nothing to do with Russia and China's geopolitical and business interests, because it is beyond obvious that China and Russia face a common enemy and share common interests.
Again, Russia is only using China as a partner of last resort because they've been shunned by the West due to their war of territorial expansion. China should view this relationship as a quid pro quo just like how Russians view it.
The fact that you think Russia first initiated the SMO then consulted with China afterwards, demonstrates you lack of understanding of how politics work. Russia likely planned this operation and consulted with their allies for years prior to initiating it. If they hadn't done that, it would not have been so successful.
The West still buys product from Russia through third parties such as India, Eurasia, and China, and they pay more for it, so nobody is shunning Russia out. What you see on the news is just posturing and nonsense.
Russia was never looking for territorial expansion. Go do more research about what caused the Ukraine conflict before you say things like that and sound like a propagandist. America is aggressive towards both China and Russia and that naturally pushed them to become even closer allies than they have ever been.
Russia and China face a common enemy and share a massive border. They need to watch each others back or they are finished for good. not only can Russia not survive without China, but Russia is also essential to China's survival. It is a two way street. One look at the map and this fact becomes self explanatory.
If Russia can get back with the West while keeping Ukrainian territory even if it means enmity with China, I'm sure they would do it in a heartbeat.
Russia will never give up their captured territories. They are now constitutionally part of Russia. The West severed ties with Russia, so either they continue to pay more for Russian product, or they go back to Russia begging for forgiveness. There is no third option. Russia will not be defeated in Ukraine.
