Xi Jinping to join Putin in Moscow for Victory Day — A show of strength against the West?

Chinese Premier Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin - File Photo

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday said that Chinese Premier Xi Jinping will visit Moscow to attend Victory Day celebrations on May 9, marking the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II.

Putin made the announcement during his meeting with China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi and also told that Jinping will be the chief guest at the event.

"It is going to be an official visit by the President of the People's Republic of China. He is going to be our main guest of honour and we will have a chance to speak about the current state of our bilateral relations, and also to discuss our cooperation on multilateral platforms..." said Putin in his meeting with the Chinese diplomat.

Xi Jinping will visit Moscow in May for the 80th Victory Day celebrations, as part of a larger tripThe Chinese leader will be the events main guest, Vladimir Putin told Chinese FM Wang Yi pic.twitter.com/wWK8Yi92x7
RT (@RT_com) April 1, 2025

The visit underscores the deepening strategic alliance between Moscow and Beijing at a time of escalating geopolitical tensions with the West.

Xi’s presence at the May 9 event will be significant as it signals China’s continued diplomatic and economic support for Russia, despite Western sanctions and global scrutiny over the Ukraine war.

The visit comes at a time when Russia faces mounting Western sanctions, military aid flowing to Ukraine and growing isolation from the US and Europe. Notably, the announcement by Putin comes a day before America’s reciprocal tariffs come into effect. Moscow and Beijing are expected to suffer the harshest sanctions in the trade war.

With both nations facing Western economic and strategic pressure, the visit reaffirms their growing alignment against U.S.-led global influence. This could mean stronger economic cooperation, further undermining Western sanctions on Russia.

While China has not directly supplied Russia with weapons, the U.S. has warned against Beijing providing lethal aid to Moscow. If Xi signals deeper military cooperation, it could prolong the war in Ukraine and escalate US-China tensions.

Russia has become increasingly dependent on China for trade, particularly in energy exports. The visit may bring new agreements on oil, gas, and technology, further insulating Moscow from Western sanctions.