They’re long-time strategic partners, but Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is testing the strength of Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping’s relationship, Guardian leader writer Tania Branigan explains
The image of Chinese reporter Lu Yuguang, who has been embedded with the Russian army, reporting from the bombardment of Mariupol, is striking: he stands in rubble, dressed in a helmet and flak jacket, the only foreign journalist on the frontline with exclusive access to the Russian side of the fighting.