Russian President Vladimir Putin took the opportunity on Friday to congratulate all citizens of Russia with the upcoming anniversary of Crimea’s reunification with Russia, calling it a historic event.
"I want to congratulate the citizens of Crimea, Sevastopol and all citizens of our country with the Day of Crimea’s Reunification with Russia," Putin said, opening a session on the socio-economic development of Crimea and Sevastopol.
March 16, 2023 marks nine years since the Crimean referendum, where the majority of citizens of Crimea and Sevastopol voted in favor of reunification with Russia.
After Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovich was ousted in a coup in February 2014, mass protests erupted in Crimea and eastern Ukraine. On March 11, 2014, Crimea’s Supreme Council and Sevastopol City Council adopted a declaration of independence.
On March 15, 2014, the Crimean authorities held a referendum on reuniting with Russia. Most voters supported the idea (96.77% in Crimea and 95.6% in the city of Sevastopol), with turnout reaching 80%.
On March 18, 2014, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed the treaty on Crimea’s reunification with Russia. Ukraine, the United States and the European Union refused to recognize Crimea’s independence and its decision to reunite with Russia.
Xi Jinping’s visit to Moscow to be business-like, without 'protocol stuff' — official
Chinese leader Xi Jinping’s visit to Russia is a state one, in order to underscore its importance, but, in essence, it will be purely business-like, without any "protocol stuff," Presidential Aide Yuri Ushakov told reporters Friday, answering a question from TASS.
"The peculiarity of this state visit is that there will be no additional complicating protocol stuff; the most important thing is negotiations, negotiations and more negotiations," the official said, adding that the "visit is called a state one in order to underscore its importance, while it will be purely business-like."
©Alexandr Demyanchuk/TASS
"It was agreed this way, because the visit takes place immediately after many domestic events in Beijing - the reelection of the Chairman, as well as a number of other ones - we agreed that we will limit ourselves to a visit to Moscow," Ushakov said, answering a question on why Xi Jinping will not visit several other cities, which is usually the case during state visits.
"It was agreed upon in advance," the official said.
"The exchange of presents is indeed included," Ushakov said, adding that the presents will be "not too expensive, but symbolic." He refrained from revealing what present has been prepared from the Russian side. When asked if the Chinese leader will visit the newly-constructed Big Circle Line of the Moscow Metro, Ushakov pointed out that the Russian President said earlier that metro construction has reached a high level and is worthy of showing to Chinese colleagues.
"I do not know, maybe some of them [members of the delegation] will probably go down in the metro, but this has not been planned for the Chairman," the official said.
He added that the "practical preparation of the visit has begun immediately after the re-election of Xi Jinping." Xi Jinping was re-elected for the third five-year term as the President of the People's Republic of China earlier in March; earlier in October, 2022, Xi Jinping was also re-elected as the Chairman of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China.
According to the diplomatic protocol, the state visit status is the highest class of foreign visits and it is rarely used. Usually, such visits imply a number of additional protocol events and meetings.
Putin, Xi Jinping to discuss most important issues tete-a-tete on March 20 — aide
Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese leader Xi Jinping will have a tete-a-tete conversation in the Kremlin on March 20, and the Kremlin pays particular attention to this meeting, because the most important issues will be reviewed there, Presidential Aide Yury Ushakov told reporters Friday.
"After noon of March 20, Putin and Xi Jinping will have a tete-a-tete meeting, will have a dinner together," the official said.
"We pay great attention to this informal closed meeting, because the most important, key, sensitive issues regarding relations between the two countries, including affairs on international arena, will be discussed there," Ushakov said.
He noted that the visit will begin "with the first meeting [of the two leaders], which is extremely important for both sides, because it provides an opportunity to discuss the most sensitive issues that are on our cooperation agenda in a completely trusting, open format."
"We plan that the two leaders will say a couple of words before reporters first, which will be followed by a closed conversation and a closed lunch," Ushakov said.
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