ABSTRACT
Russia’s relations with China entered a new phase of cooperation in 2014 when the former’s economic isolation from the West began owing to the crisis in Ukraine. Eight years later Russia’s relationship with the West has reached a new phase of hostility given its recognition of Donetsk and Lugansk as independent republics and its ‘special military operation’ in Ukraine since 24 February 2022. Amid this geopolitical churning, there is also a renewed focus on the RussiaChina partnership and the impact of the crisis on China’s ambitious Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). This chapter examines the dynamics of Russia-China relations and compares the BRI with Russia’s own regional integration project-Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU). It highlights the scope and limits of their coordination and explores the impact of the renewed conflict in Ukraine on the BRI.
