Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed gratitude to Chinese President Xi Jinping for participating in the 80th anniversary celebrations commemorating the ‘sacred’ victory over Adolf Hitler in World War Two.
He emphasized that both nations are united in their fight against ‘neo-Nazism’. Xi’s attendance at this week’s events significantly bolsters Putin, who has framed his military actions in Ukraine as a battle against contemporary Nazis.
Ukraine and its allies dismiss this narrative as a grotesque distortion, accusing Russia of waging an imperial-style invasion. ‘The victory over fascism, achieved through immense sacrifices, holds enduring importance,’ Putin remarked to Xi on Thursday. ‘Alongside our Chinese partners, we steadfastly uphold historical truth, honor the memories of wartime events, and combat modern forms of neo-Nazism and militarism.’
Xi stated that the two nations, as global powers and permanent members of the U.N. Security Council, would collaborate to oppose ‘unilateralism and bullying’, implicitly referring to the United States. He added that they would ‘jointly advocate for an accurate interpretation of World War Two history, uphold the authority and status of the United Nations, resolutely defend the rights and interests of China, Russia, and the majority of developing nations, and work together to foster an equal, orderly, multipolar, and inclusive global economic landscape.’
The two leaders met after walking towards each other along a red carpet in one of the Kremlin’s grandest halls, shaking hands in front of the media and addressing each other as ‘dear friend’. Xi stands out as the most influential among over two dozen foreign leaders visiting Moscow this week to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the conclusion of World War Two. The celebrations occur at a critical juncture in the ongoing conflict with Ukraine, as both Moscow and Kyiv face U.S. pressure to negotiate a peace agreement.
On Tuesday, Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry called on nations to refrain from sending military forces to the May 9 parade, arguing that such actions would contradict the stated neutrality of some countries in the ongoing conflict.
Xi, currently engaged in a trade dispute with the United States, is anticipated to finalize several agreements aimed at strengthening the ‘no limits’ strategic partnership established between the two nations in 2022, shortly before Putin launched his military invasion of Ukraine.
As Russia’s largest trading partner, China has provided significant economic support to help Moscow cope with Western sanctions, purchasing more Russian oil and gas than any other nation.
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