Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi will meet today in Moscow | Photo: Russian Foreign Ministry/Handout via REUTERS

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov is set to meet his Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi today in Moscow.

Today’s meeting will focus on prospects for a resolution of the conflict in Ukraine and ensuring stability and security in the Asia-Pacific. Ever since pledging a “no limits” friendship, China and Russia have increasingly harmonized their stances on major foreign policy issues, including Taiwan and Ukraine.

Attempts to expand the size and scope of BRICS reflect their ambition to create an alternative pole to NATO. Nevertheless, the economic woes of both Russia and China, their underwhelming attempt at reducing the power of the US dollar, as well as their diminishing soft power as evidenced by the absence of both Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping from the recent G-20 summit indicate that the developing world is not keen on taking sides in this conflict.

As China is not expected to provide military support for Russia yet, Moscow has pursued closer military ties and weapons from North Korea. Relying on a rogue state like North Korea not only highlights Russia’s weakened military and diplomatic standing, but it will also prompt closer ties between South Korea, Japan, and the US, which in turn could be troublesome to China. To avoid such a development, China may try to limit North Korea’s involvement in the Ukraine war.