Despite the United States and European Union’s sanctions against Russia, the Russian economy appears to be holding strong.

China has declared that its relationship with Russia is “solid as a rock,” and Russian President Vladimir Putin has shown no signs of backing down from the crisis in Ukraine.

In 2014, Russia annexed Ukraine’s Crimean peninsula, leading to the US and EU to impose economic sanctions on Russia. The sanctions have had a significant impact on the Russian economy, but it has yet to reach a “knockout” point according to the Associated Press.

Putin has remained defiant in the face of the sanctions, and the Russian economy has shown resilience in the face of the international pressure.

CNN reported that the Russian economy has been hit hard by the sanctions, but Putin has been able to keep the country afloat by cutting spending, raising taxes, and relying on oil and gas exports.

Despite the economic impact of the sanctions, Ukraine remains in a state of conflict, with no end in sight. ABC News reported that the crisis in Ukraine has been ongoing for over a year, and the US Department of the Treasury has accused Russia of continuing to arm separatists in the region.

It appears that, despite the economic sanctions, the relationship between China and Russia remains strong, and the Russian economy is holding out against the international pressure.