A huge KFC order has been spotted outside the Xi Jinping Hotel in Moscow

drink food

By News.com.au

March 24, 2023 | 12:22 p.m

J’s entourage seemed to get excited about some good fried chicken during his recent stay in Moscow.

Bags of fast food from KFC were seen being delivered to the luxury hotel where the Chinese delegation was staying for the leader’s three-day visit.

Russia’s state media agency Ruptly, part of the RT network, reported that the delegation went to the five-star Soluxe Hotel in Moscow after arriving on Monday.

After they arrived, the delivery person brought no less than 18 bags of fast food to the hotel, which was decorated with Russian and Chinese flags.

While the recipients of the food are unknown, the outlet noted that the Chinese delegation had just arrived.

Xi held two days of talks with his Russian counterpart this week in Moscow, his first visit since Vladimir Putin unleashed his war against Ukraine in February last year.

Kentucky Fried Chicken is one of the companies that pulled out of Russia after the invasion. Fast food conglomerate Yum! The brands sold their restaurants to a Russian operator who was supposed to rebrand them under Rostic’s.

However, according to the footage, the old branding—including the iconic Colonel Sanders logo—was still used and was visible on the take-out bags.

Many commentators found it amusing that Chinese officials, who hold the United States responsible on a variety of global issues, might have chosen an American fast-food chain during their visit to Russia.

Analysts have claimed that there is no indication that the Chinese president’s visit to Moscow will rein in Putin in his war on Ukraine, even if it once again highlights an unbalanced relationship in which Russia is clearly the junior partner.

Every aspect of the pair’s body language was scrutinized to try to ascertain the two leaders’ intentions.

Xi, who has what has been described as a plan to end the conflict, has presented himself as a mediator concerned with maintaining stability.

But Putin can only be heartened by Xi’s expressions of support and the sheer symbolism of a personal visit, even as Russia faces growing dependence on China as Moscow becomes more isolated from the West.

The visit came after the Hague-based International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for Putin, the biggest legal challenge the Russian leader has faced.

“I was encouraged by Xi Putin’s visit, especially after the Hague arrest warrant,” said Liana Fix, Europe fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR).

She said the Chinese peace plan was “clearly strongly in favor of Russia,” adding that Beijing was willing to give Moscow “time to end the war in its favour,” albeit with tacit rather than proactive support.

“Sure, Putin would have wished for more – especially in regards to the gas deal with China – but the theories of the visit were so important to him that he accepts Russia’s increasing dependence on China,” she said.