THE SITUATION AROUND UKRAINE IS PUSHING RUSSIA AND CHINA TO THE ALLIANCE

A year after the start of Russia's special military operation in Ukraine, the rapprochement between the Russian Federation and China in the most important areas of world development has intensified. Although Beijing is trying to demonstrate its neutrality on this issue, the statements of Chinese leaders and diplomats and, most importantly, their deeds reflect the growing cooperation between two countries in politics, economy, finance, and even in the military sphere. It seems possible to talk about the nascent union of the two countries, although for the time being they prefer to keep silent about this in Russia, and in China, and, even more so, in the West. In the first part of the article (June 2022), the political, economic and financial aspects of China's reaction to the Ukrainian events were considered, an attempt was made to predict the future configuration of relations between the Russian Federation and China, the impact of these relations on the global economy. In 2023, relations between the two countries clearly exceeded the level of partnership (even strategic) and began to resemble allied relations of states with close interests in foreign policy, acting in concert against common opponents, significantly expanding their combined influence on global political, financial, and economic development.