Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in Moscow on Wednesday, May 7, for a high-profile meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, just hours after Ukrainian drones targeted the Russian capital — an attack Kyiv has openly opposed, especially ahead of Xi’s state visit. Xi, whose nation is the largest buyer of Russian oil and gas, has been a crucial economic ally to Moscow, helping it weather Western sanctions due to the ongoing war in Ukraine. He landed at Moscow’s Vnukovo-2 airport shortly after Russian authorities reported downing another Ukrainian drone near the capital. This marked the third consecutive day of drone attacks on Moscow by Ukraine. One of the city’s main airports was briefly shut down just a few hours before Xi’s arrival.

In a press briefing, the Chinese foreign ministry refrained from commenting on Xis visit in the context of the drone attacks, merely stating that preventing further escalation should be the primary goal. Meanwhile, the Kremlin labeled Ukraine’s actions as “terrorist” in nature and assured that security measures were in place ahead of the World War II victory commemorations, which Xi will attend. Ukrainian officials also reported a deadly Russian airstrike on Kyiv the same night, killing a mother and her child. Russia maintains that it only targets military assets.

Xi is expected to be the most prominent world leader present at Friday’s Red Square military parade, which celebrates the 80th anniversary of the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany. His visit offers Putin a key diplomatic endorsement, allowing Russia to signal that it is not globally isolated. The Kremlin emphasized Xi’s presence — alongside 28 other world leaders — as a sign of Russia’s strengthening global stature.

However, Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry criticized the upcoming parade, especially the participation of foreign troops like China’s, arguing that such involvement contradicts any claim of neutrality regarding the war. Moscow’s mayor reported that air defense systems intercepted at least 14 Ukrainian drones overnight, with two more destroyed later in the day. Xi has consistently advocated for peace talks to resolve the Ukraine conflict and criticized the U.S. for supplying arms to Kyiv. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has urged Xi to persuade Putin to end the war.

Xi and Putin are scheduled for formal talks on Thursday, with the parade taking place on Friday. Amid a trade war with the U.S., Xi is expected to sign several deals with Russia, reinforcing their strategic partnership. China has remained Russia’s top trading partner throughout the conflict. While former U.S. President Donald Trump has made efforts to mediate the war, Russia and China are expected to show unity against what they see as American unilateralism. Both nations advocate a multipolar world, challenging U.S. dominance.

In an article published by Russian media, Xi stressed the need for China and Russia to protect the post-World War II international system and resist external efforts to damage their mutual trust. The visit has been hailed by Russian officials as a major milestone in China-Russia relations. Analysts note that the focus on WWII history is aimed at portraying both countries as defenders of the global order, in contrast to the U.S., which they accuse of undermining it. Putin and Xi are expected to discuss critical issues, including energy cooperation and the long-planned Power of Siberia 2 pipeline project, according to Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov.

Disclaimer: This image is taken from Reuters.