Vladimir Putin met with his ally Chinese President Xi Jinping on Monday in Kyrgyzstan as they discussed Ukraine amid growing fears that Russia will escalate its war with Kyiv.

The pair, along with other world leaders, were in Kyrgyzstan for a two-day summit of the Shanghai Co-operation Organisation (SCO), which seeks to be a counterbalance to the West.

The regional SCO bloc – which brings together Russia, China, Iran, India, Pakistan, four central Asian countries and Belarus – is celebrating its 25-year anniversary.

Upon arrival in the Kyrgyz capital Bishkek, Russian President Vladimir Putin met China's Xi Jinping, Russian media reported.

Although they reportedly discussed Ukraine, it was not the main theme of their meeting, the Kremlin said. 

Mr Putin and Xi have previously used SCO summits to promote their vision of a multipolar world and present a united front against the West.

Iran's leader Masoud Pezeshkian, Turkey's Recep Tayyip Erdogan, India's Narendra Modi and Pakistan's Shehbaz Sharif were also in Bishkek.

The summit takes place four-and-a-half years into Moscow's Ukraine invasion, as Mr Putin is reportedly considering escalating the conflict.

Sources close to the Kremlin have claimed Mr Putin has chosen to escalate the war, fearing he could face backlash from the Russian public if he ends the conflict without being able to claim victory.

In an August 22 address, the Russian president accused Ukraine of opening a 'Pandora's box' and threatened 'blowback on the most sensitive sectors of your economy'.

Earlier that day, speaking to United Russia, the Kremlin's ruling party, he dismissed suggestions that the war was coming to an end. 'The special military operation continues,' he said. 'We will move only forward.'

It comes as ordinary Russians are increasingly bearing the brunt of the war, facing relentless Ukrainian drone attacks, internet restrictions and a struggling economy.

According to The Economist, discontent is even greater among Russia's elites, with one insider claiming they are increasingly frustrated by the length of the conflict.

Mr Putin reportedly believes he could be at risk if he ends the war without achieving at least his minimum goal of capturing the entire Donbas region.

'They will hang me,' he reportedly said, according to an insider cited by The Economist.

Meanwhile, it has been six months into the war between Washington and Tehran.    

Speaking after the first exchange of fire between the United States and Iran in a month, Iran's Pezeshkian said continuing the war was not in Tehran's interests.