Commentaries, Analysis, And Editorials -- September 20, 2018

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping make pancakes on the sidelines of the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok, Russia, on Sept. 11.Sergei Bobylev / Reuters

Elena Holodny, NBC News: Russia, China embrace uneasily, aim for 'desirable world order'

Moscow-Beijing relations are "showing dynamic growth," according to Chinese leader Xi Jinping. He also described Vladimir Putin as a "close friend."

VLADIVOSTOK, Russia — Donning a blue apron, Russian President Vladimir Putin poured batter into a pan and tossed it.

He was cooking with his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, and the pair were making a traditional Russian pancake called a blini.

The culinary showmanship reflected a larger trend: Russia and China are developing a closer, albeit uneasy friendship.

Before last week's blini-making, the two leaders had just discussed military and economic cooperation on the sidelines of the Eastern Economic Forum, an annual event held in this far-eastern Russian city.

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Commentaries, Analysis, And Editorials -- September 20, 2018

4 Big Revelations from the Kim-Moon Summit -- Sungku Jang, National Interest

The Guardian view on the US and North Korea: warm words, not deeds -- Guardian editorial

Politics, pride in leaders trip to ‘sacred’ N. Korea volcano -- Eric Talmadge, AP

Korean Summit: The pomp, the substance and what it means -- AP

Time to Refocus on North Korea's Proliferation -- Dan Blumenthal, National Interest

Idlib has become a problem to be solved, not a people to be saved -- Faisal Al Yafai, The National

What does Russia want in northwest Syria? -- Leonid Issaev, Al Jazeera

Plane shot down over Syria puts Russia-Israel relations to the test -- Maxim A. Suchkov, Al-Monitor

Trump Is Reinventing the U.S. Approach to the Palestinian-Israeli Conflict -- The Atlantic

President Trump’s Shift in Syria -- Daniel DePetris, RCD

This Trade War Is A Bummer... For China -- Kenneth Rapoza, Forbes

What’s China up to in Antarctica? -- Claire Young, The Strategist

Russia's military unintelligence -- Roman Dobrokhotov, Al Jazeera

In The U.K.-EU Faceoff, Neither Side Is Blinking -- Soraya Sarhaddi Nelson, NPR

Will Populism Come To Russia? -- Marcel H. Van Herpen, National Interest

Spain Is the New Magnet for Europe-Bound Migrants. How Will They Be Received? -- Malia Politzer, WPR

AP Analysis: Trump heads to UN as US retreats from world -- Matthew Lee, AP