The Day Xi Refused Gas, Embraced Multipolarity

The day was dominated by Putin's state visit to China, with state-aligned outlets highlighting the deepening partnership, 40 signed documents, and a joint declaration for a multipolar world. However, independent The Moscow Times reported that Xi Jinping refused a new gas contract for the Power of Siberia-2 pipeline, a key Russian goal. Meduza covered a Lithuanian drone alert that shut down Vilnius airport for an hour, while Lenta.ru reported Russia's warning to NATO countries about launching Ukrainian drones from their territory. In the evening, Kommersant noted that Russia and China agreed to accelerate construction of Power of Siberia-2, but no final deal was announced. The visit's outcome was portrayed as successful by state media, but independent outlets noted the lack of a blockbuster gas deal.