During the Victory Day Parade in Moscow, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin were in attendance. The event commemorated the 80th anniversary of the Soviet Union’s victory over Nazi Germany in World War II. The parade featured thousands of Russian troops marching on Red Square, with military units from China and 12 other countries participating.
Amid heightened security following Ukrainian drone attacks on Moscow, Xi Jinping expressed support for Putin, emphasizing the need for the two countries to strengthen ties and counter U.S. influence. The leaders issued a joint statement pledging to deepen military and other relations and coordinate responses to U.S. policies targeting both nations.
Xi’s visit coincided with efforts by the Trump administration to broker a ceasefire in Ukraine and upcoming U.S.-China trade talks. The event drew world leaders, including Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, who echoed support for Russia and China’s stance.
While Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy cautioned against attending the commemorations, leaders like Lula emphasized the importance of finding peace and resolving conflicts. Despite differing views on the Ukraine war, the presence of global leaders underscored the geopolitical significance of the event.
The streets of Ukraine were adorned in the colors of Russian nationalism and militarism, with huge billboards linking the World War II anniversary to Putin’s actions in Ukraine. World leaders, including those from Cuba and Venezuela, were welcomed individually during the recent events. May 9 holds great significance for the former Soviet Union, which suffered a loss of 27 million lives during World War II. However, this year’s parade was overshadowed by the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, now entering its fourth year.
China, Russia’s top trading partner, positioned itself as neutral in the Ukraine war while extending diplomatic and economic support to Russia. Alexander Gabuev, director of the Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center, noted that the relationship between China and Russia has strengthened amid the conflict. During Chinese President Xi Jinping’s recent visit to Russia, a clear message was sent that their alignment remains unbreakable.
Xi expressed hopes to Putin for a lasting peace agreement accepted by all involved parties. As Xi prepares to depart Russia, U.S. and Chinese officials are meeting in Switzerland to address the escalating tariffs between the two nations, causing global economic concerns. China’s willingness to engage in talks without U.S. concessions suggests that the tariffs are achieving their intended impact, per Craig Singleton of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies.
Meanwhile, Beijing has implemented significant economic policies to support its economy, including interest rate cuts and aid for struggling sectors like real estate. These actions, according to Singleton, reflect a sense of urgency to prevent economic challenges from escalating into broader political risks.
Although Trump hinted at potential tariff reductions on Chinese imports following the talks, immediate bilateral tariff adjustments are unlikely, as per the Economist Intelligence Unit. The ongoing disagreements over tariff rates and concessions may persist, but the dialogue between the nations is seen as a positive step forward.
Reporting from Moscow were Keir Simmons and Natasha Lebedeva, while Jennifer Jett provided coverage from Hong Kong.
