Russian President Vladimir Putin is in Beijing to meet President Xi Jinping for high-level talks -- days after US President Donald Trump's visit and amid significant battlefield setbacks in the Ukraine war. CNN's Kristie Lu Stout speaks with Jill Dougherty, former CNN Moscow Bureau Chief and Adjunct Professor at Georgetown University's Center for Eurasian, Russian and East European Studies about the timing and the impact of the high-level visit. She says Ukraine's strikes are aimed at Russia's critical infrastructure, particularly its energy sector, including oil refineries and facilities tied to military production, which help fund the war effort. The attacks have hit at least 14 regions, including the heavily defended Moscow area, unsettling Russian citizens and prompting rare expressions of concern and frustration domestically. As negotiations over the war remain stalled, the growing reach of Ukrainian drones inside Russia is raising domestic pressure at home. Against this backdrop, Putin’s visit to Beijing -- coming shortly after Trump’s own trip -- underscores the strategic importance of China, with expected discussions ranging from energy cooperation and potential pipeline projects to geopolitical tensions involving Iran and the Strait of Hormuz. While China continues to tread carefully on Ukraine, balancing its economic and strategic interests, the timing of the visit highlights shifting global dynamics as the Ukraine conflict persists.