Watch: Putin Courts Xi With Full Pomp

Russian President Vladimir Putin treated Chinese President Xi Jinping to a bright fanfare and a long red carpet walk as the two leaders met at the Kremlin ahead of the Victory Day parade in Moscow on May 9.

The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs posted a video of the formal greeting on social media, after which Putin hailed his "dear friend" Xi ahead of the celebrations to mark 80 years since the end of World War II in Europe.

Why It Matters

China is a vital strategic partner of Russia and—amid punitive Western sanctions— Beijing's oil purchases have provided economic support to Moscow following its invasion of Ukraine.

The Russia-China alliance has deepened during the Ukraine war, as NATO allies sought to isolate Moscow over its invasion.

They said the age of American hegemony is over, and the China-Russia alliance represents the emergency of a new, multipolar world of global power.

What to Know

On the agenda for Xi and Putin's talks are international issues, the growth of bilateral trade, and energy cooperation, the Russian state news agency TASS reported. They will also have confidential one-on-one talks.

Xi's presence in Russia for Victory Day—an important date in the Russian calendar that carries a lot of emotional weight—and his grand reception by Putin is intended to symbolize the strength and significance of their relationship.

Russia is the junior partner to the more powerful China, which is the world's second-largest economy, though Moscow is keen to present it as a relationship of equals.

In the early months of the Ukraine war, Xi and Putin had declared a "partnership without limits" between Russia and China, but the latter has sought to stay out of direct involvement in the conflict.

Putin declared a unilateral 36-hour truce with Ukraine to coincide with Victory Day, at which other world leaders will be in attendance, including Xi.

Ukraine said it wants a full 30-day ceasefire instead, and President Volodymyr Zelensky has said Russia should worry about its parade in Moscow.

What People Are Saying

Xi said to Putin, per TASS: "Under our strategic leadership, our political interaction is strengthening, practical cooperation is consolidating, cultural, humanitarian, exchange and interregional ties are gaining momentum."

Putin said: "We are developing our ties for the benefit of the peoples of both countries and not against anyone. The intention to build good-neighborliness, strengthen friendship and expand cooperation is the choice of Russia and China based on strategic cooperation."

Daniel Fried, former U.S. assistant secretary of state for European and Eurasian affairs, told POLITICO: "I hope that this will put an end to the fatuous notion that the United States can pull what amateurs call a 'reverse Kissinger' and entice Russia away from China. That's always been nonsense. The Chinese alliance validates Putin's worldview that the free world order is on the defensive and maybe dead because of [President Donald] Trump, and it could be replaced by a different order in which Russia is a founding member, if not an equal member."

What Happens Next

Putin is likely to also visit China for its celebrations to mark 80 years since victory over Japan. "I will be glad to visit friendly China again on an official visit timed to coincide with this date," Putin said.