China and Russia are somewhat simaliar in that though their Presidents have strong political control they’re both capitalists.....which has changed dramatically fro the years of Stalin and other Russian Leaders.
There’s just no comparison between Putins Russia and Stalins....Same with Ukrains....the Nazi’s are marching in the street and in their governance.....that doesn’t mean they’re Constitutions and Governmnent or Business.
Putin’s economics is a far more grotesque form of oligarchic/kleptocratic capitalism than China’s. China therfore has a stronger thriving middle class.