China’s leader’s visit to Moscow provides "diplomatic cover" for Russian crimes — Blinken 

According to CNN, Blinken said this at a press conference at the State Department on the occasion of the publication of the 2022 human rights report.

Blinken recalled that President Xi Jinping's visit to Russia comes days after the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for Putin. In his opinion, this shows that China does not consider it necessary to hold the Kremlin accountable for the atrocities committed in Ukraine.

"Instead of even condemning them, it would rather provide diplomatic cover for Russia to continue to commit those very crimes," Blinken said.

Speaking about China's proposals to end the war, Blinken said that "elements" of China's peace proposal are in line with efforts supported by the US.

“China’s proposal includes elements that we have long supported, including ensuring nuclear safety, resolving the humanitarian crisis, protecting civilians and, indeed, the first element calls for upholding sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of all counties,” said Blinken.

At the same time, he stressed that any calls for a cease-fire that do not involve the withdrawal of Russian troops from the territory of Ukraine "would effectively be supporting the ratification of Russian conquest", as this will allow Putin “to rest and refit his troops, and then restart the war at a time more advantageous to Russia”.

"The world should not be fooled by any tactical move by Russia, supported by China or any other country, to freeze the war on its own terms,” said Blinken. 

• On Monday, March 20, an informal meeting between Chinese leader Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin took place in Moscow.  It lasted 4.5 hours.  The official meeting will be held on March 21

• Earlier, the White House stated that it was closely monitoring the visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping to Moscow, and called on him to hold a conversation with the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy