By Alexandra Sharp
Welcome back to World Brief, where we’re looking at China’s “no limits” partnership with Russia, Pakistan vowing retaliation against India, and upcoming trade talks between Washington and Beijing.
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Moscow’s RSVP List
Russian T-90M tanks drive across Palace Square in Moscow on May 3 during a rehearsal for Victory Day.Olga Maltseva/AFP via Getty Images
Chinese President Xi Jinping flew to Moscow on Wednesday to begin a four-day state visit that will include attendance at Russia’s Victory Day parade on Friday. While the event’s official purpose is to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II, the Kremlin is hoping that the presence of Xi and 28 other foreign leaders will demonstrate Russia’s efforts to fight Western isolationism amid its war in Ukraine.
Ahead of the event, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a unilateral three-day cease-fire in the war in Ukraine beginning Thursday. “Fire will be halted, but should the Kyiv regime fail to do the same and should it continue trying to strike our positions and facilities, then an appropriate response will be given immediately,” Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said on Tuesday.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has dismissed the move as a “theatrical play” and instead called for a truce lasting at least 30 days that would halt strikes on civilian targets. He also warned the foreign leaders traveling to Moscow that Kyiv “cannot be held responsible for what happens on the territory of the Russian Federation” during Victory Day.
His warning came just a few days before Ukraine launched a massive overnight drone assault on Moscow, the third in as many days. According to Russia’s defense ministry, the country’s military has shot down more than 500 Ukrainian drones in the past 24 hours, and four major airports in Moscow were forced to close, affecting some 60,000 passengers. This included Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, who was already facing heavy European criticism for attending the parade; his plane was forced to reroute to Baku, Azerbaijan, before finally arriving in Russia.
With 29 world leaders in attendance, Friday’s parade will feature the largest foreign delegation at the Red Square event since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. It will also be the first time since 2020 that the Chinese People’s Liberation Army has sent an honor guard to participate in the ceremony.
Kyiv has repeatedly accused Beijing of aiding Russia’s war efforts, allowing Chinese nationals to fight for Moscow, and fostering a close relationship with Putin. China maintains that it is a neutral party in the war and supports a peaceful resolution. This week’s trip is Xi’s 11th visit to Russia since becoming president, more than to any other country; in September, Putin is set to visit Beijing to mark Japan’s World War II surrender.
Since the conflict began, Russia has prioritized its “no limits” partnership with China to counter Western isolation. Bilateral trade reached $245 billion in 2024, 66 percent more than before the war began in 2021. This week, Xi and Putin are also expected to sign numerous cooperation agreements and discuss the Power of Siberia 2 gas pipeline, which would carry around 50 billion cubic meters of gas a year from Russia to China.
“Together we must foil all schemes to disrupt or undermine our bonds of amity and trust,” Xi wrote on Wednesday in regard to China-Russia relations. Xi is expected to hold talks with Putin on Thursday.
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