Xi Jinping’s Moscow Visit Underscores Deepening China-Russia Alliance Amid Global Tensions

 

As Russian President Vladimir Putin prepares for Russia’s May 9 “Victory Day” military parade, his most anticipated guest is Chinese leader Xi Jinping, signaling a strong reaffirmation of ties between Moscow and Beijing at a time of heightened global instability.

Xi’s four-day state visit to Moscow will coincide with commemorations marking 80 years since the Allied victory over Nazi Germany in World War II. According to Beijing, the visit is intended to “deepen mutual trust” and reinforce the enduring strategic partnership between the two nations. Putin has described Xi as his “main guest,” emphasizing the importance of their relationship.

Ahead of his arrival, Xi published an article in Russian state media denouncing hegemonism and power politics, urging both countries to resist external interference in their friendship. He highlighted the historical bond between China and Russia, referencing their cooperation during World War II.

Alongside Xi, several other world leaders are expected at the event, including Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, Vietnam’s President To Lam, and Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko. Chinese military honor guards will also participate in the parade, which comes amid Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine.

In anticipation of the celebration, Putin proposed a three-day ceasefire with Kyiv. However, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky rejected the proposal, labeling it a “theatrical performance” and reiterated support for an earlier U.S.-backed proposal for a broader 30-day truce. Zelensky also warned that Ukraine could not guarantee the safety of foreign dignitaries on Russian soil due to the ongoing conflict.

Ukraine has continued its campaign of drone strikes on Moscow, with recent attacks prompting temporary airport closures. Kyiv maintains that these operations target infrastructure critical to Russia’s war machine and are in response to continued Russian strikes on Ukrainian cities and energy networks.

Victory Day, commemorating the Soviet Union’s defeat of Nazi Germany, has grown in symbolic importance under Putin, who uses it to bolster national pride and justify current military actions. This year’s parade is expected to have limited displays of military hardware due to much of it being deployed in Ukraine.

The visit serves as a platform for China and Russia to present themselves as champions of a new global order, countering what they view as U.S. dominance and unilateralism. Chinese state media emphasized that Xi and Putin would “lead the correct direction of global governance” and promote a multipolar world.

Among the topics to be discussed during Xi and Putin’s meeting are the Ukraine war, relations with the United States, and the Power of Siberia-2 gas pipeline—Russia’s long-proposed project to supply natural gas to China.

The visit also underscores Beijing’s increasing economic reliance on Moscow. Last year, China and Russia reached record levels of bilateral trade, with China providing critical components that Western sanctions have denied Russia. While Beijing defends this as “normal trade,” Western leaders accuse China of aiding Russia’s military industry.

Observers note that Xi is likely aiming to secure long-term access to Russian resources and markets, especially as U.S.-China trade tensions worsen. At the same time, European leaders will be closely watching Xi’s rhetoric, looking for any signs that Beijing might soften its support for Moscow’s war in Ukraine—a potential step toward repairing strained ties with Europe.

Despite speculation about a possible U.S.-Russia thaw under Donald Trump, both Beijing and Moscow remain deeply skeptical of Washington’s intentions. Analysts believe neither Xi nor Putin has reason to jeopardize a partnership that offers ideological alignment, strategic advantage, and mutual economic benefit.

For both leaders, this visit is not just about celebrating past victories—but about signaling their commitment to a shared geopolitical future.