As Russian President Vladimir Putin prepares for his highly choreographed May 9 \u201cVictory Day\u201d military parade, he has made it clear who tops his guest list: Chinese leader Xi Jinping.<\/p>\n
Xi is scheduled to arrive in Moscow on Wednesday for a four-day state visit. According to Beijing, the visit is intended to deepen \u201cmutual trust\u201d between the two leaders and will include Xi\u2019s participation in events marking the 80th anniversary of the Allied victory over Nazi Germany in World War II.<\/p>\n
Xi\u2019s attendance underscores the growing alignment between the two authoritarian leaders at a time when US President Donald Trump\u2019s America First foreign policy has disrupted global alliances and strained relations between Washington and both Beijing and Moscow.<\/p>\n
In remarks last month, Putin referred to Xi as his main guest. An article attributed to Xi and published in Russian state media ahead of the visit emphasized the need for China and Russia to resolutely oppose all forms of hegemonism and power politics and to resist any attempts to interfere with or undermine\u201d their relationship.<\/p>\n
The strong camaraderie between our two nations, forged in blood and sacrifice, surges onward unceasingly \u2026 It is an eternal wellspring nourishing our everlasting friendship,\u201d the article stated, as cited by China\u2019s Foreign Ministry, referencing their alliance during World War II.<\/p>\n
Other international leaders expected to attend the celebrations include Brazil\u2019s President Luiz In\u00e1cio Lula da Silva, Vietnam\u2019s President To Lam, and Belarusian leader Aleksandr Lukashenko. A contingent from the Chinese People\u2019s Liberation Army honor guard will also participate in the parade.<\/p>\n
This year\u2019s commemoration takes place against the backdrop of Russia\u2019s ongoing war in Ukraine. In anticipation of the parade, Putin proposed a three-day ceasefire with Kyiv. Some analysts believe the move was intended to ensure that Russia\u2019s military showcase could proceed uninterrupted in front of foreign dignitaries.<\/p>\n
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky rejected the ceasefire offer, dismissing it as a \u201ctheatrical performance.\u201d He reiterated his support for an earlier US-backed proposal for a 30-day ceasefire, calling for a more meaningful pause in hostilities.<\/p>\n
Earlier this month, Zelensky warned world leaders considering attending the parade that Ukraine \u201ccannot be responsible for what happens on the territory of the Russian Federation,\u201d referencing the ongoing conflict. The Kremlin later described the comment as a threat.<\/p>\n
Ukraine has carried out several drone attacks on Moscow throughout the war, including some in recent days that forced temporary airport closures in the Russian capital. One of the most significant attacks in March killed three people.<\/p>\n
Ukrainian officials argue the strikes are aimed at dismantling infrastructure essential to Moscow\u2019s war efforts. They describe the attacks as retaliation for Russia\u2019s continued bombardment of Ukrainian cities, civilian areas, and energy facilities.<\/p>\n
Victory Day on May 9 is one of Russia\u2019s most important national holidays, commemorating Nazi Germany\u2019s 1945 surrender to the Soviet Union. Under Putin, the holiday has taken on even more political and symbolic weight. In recent years, Russia has faced a reduced display of military hardware during the parade, as much of its arsenal remains deployed on the Ukrainian front lines.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
As Russian President Vladimir Putin prepares for his highly choreographed May 9 \u201cVictory Day\u201d military parade, he has made it clear who tops his guest list: Chinese leader Xi Jinping. Xi is scheduled to arrive in Moscow on Wednesday for a four-day state visit. According to Beijing, the visit is intended to deepen \u201cmutual trust\u201d […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":7096,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[25],"tags":[533,532,474,531],"class_list":{"0":"post-7095","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-international","8":"tag-president-luiz-inacio-lula-da-silva","9":"tag-president-to-lam","10":"tag-president-vladimir-putin","11":"tag-xi-jinping"},"yoast_head":"\n