Russia/Ukraine
Kevin Rudd: Xi thinks Putin is a "dummy"
Kevin Rudd: Xi Thinks Putin Is a “Dummy” | Asia Society | GZERO Media
November 09, 2022
Australia's former PM believes that the once-blossoming bromance between Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin has turned toxic. Why? You guessed it: Russia's war in Ukraine.
China's leader thinks Putin is a "dummy" for launching a "halfcocked" invasion that neither the Russian military could pull off nor the Russian economy afford, Rudd — also president and CEO of the Asia Society — says during a conversation with Eurasia Group President Ian Bremmer at the Asia Society's HQ in New York.
While Xi won't break ranks in public, Rudd adds that in private, he’s "crab-walking away from 100% endorsement" of Russia, as we saw at the recent Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit in Uzbekistan.
As for whether China can deter Russia from using nuclear weapons in Ukraine, Rudd says Xi has been clear: don't do it, Vladimir.
From Your Site Articles
- Ukraine throws wrench into China-Russia friendship ›
- China-Russia relationship status: It’s complicated ›
- Xi Jinping & Vladimir Putin: No trust among autocrats ›
- What We're Watching: Putin-Xi meeting, Brussels vs. Budapest, Sweden's next government, Japanese yen in trouble, ›
- Kevin Rudd: Nobody wanted Putin at the G-20 anyway - GZERO Media ›
- Xi & "friend" Putin could call for Ukraine ceasefire - GZERO Media ›
More For You
Geoffrey Hinton, the ‘Godfather of AI,’ joins Ian Bremmer on the GZERO World podcast to talk about how the technology he helped build could transform our lives… and also threaten our very survival.
Most Popular
Think you know what's going on around the world? Here's your chance to prove it.
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage holds a post-budget conference in London, United Kingdom, on Nov. 26, 2025.
Phil Lewis/WENN
Nigel Farage, the far-right UK leader, reportedly told donors that he plans to join forces with the center-right Conservative Party ahead of the next election. Right-wing groups in other parts of Western Europe have largely avoided making such an alliance.
© 2025 GZERO Media. All Rights Reserved | A Eurasia Group media company.