The Trump administration has said it wants to pull apart Russia and China, but the two countries need each other too much.

Ukrainian drones targeted Moscow for a third day on Wednesday, forcing most of the Russian capital's airports to close hours before Chinese President Xi Jinping was due to fly in for a pomp-filled visit that Kyiv has made clear it opposes.

A new historic realignment is picking up speed as the Russian and Chinese leaders take advantage of America's withdrawal.