Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in Moscow on Wednesday for a lengthy diplomatic visit in the aftermath of a massive drone attack on the Russian capital.
Mr. Xi traveled to Russia for a four-day visit that will include signing numerous cooperation agreements and attending a Victory Day parade in Moscow on Friday celebrating the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War.
The visit is part of the “no limits” partnership between Russia and China, which Mr. Xi hopes to deepen with the trip. Mr. Xi is also expected to discuss the ongoing war in Ukraine with Russian President Vladimir Putin and a possible oil pipeline that could carry Siberian oil into China.
It’s the 11th time Mr. Xi has visited Russia as president.
“The two sides should jointly resist any attempt to interfere with and undermine the China-Russia friendship and mutual trust, not be confused by temporary events or disturbed by the rough seas and use the certainty and resilience of China-Russia strategic cooperation to jointly promote the process of world multi-polarization and the building of a community with a shared future for mankind,” Mr. Xi wrote in an article for Russian state media.
The Chinese leader’s visit comes after a wave of drones launched from Ukraine disrupted Russian airspace and forced Moscow airports to close, affecting 60,000 passengers. Russian military leaders say they have shot down more than 500 drones over the past 24 hours.
Mr. Xi’s visit could complicate China’s neutral public position over the war in Ukraine. Despite Russia and China’s increasingly friendly relationship, Beijing has maintained that it is not assisting Moscow in its war efforts and has publicly called for a peaceful solution.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy issued a vague threat to foreign leaders attending Victory Day celebrations this weekend in Russia, saying that Ukraine cannot take responsibility for what may happen to any world leaders at the ceremony.
Additionally, tensions between Ukraine and China have only increased after two Chinese nationals were discovered fighting for Russia in the contested Donetsk region. The Chinese citizens had reportedly traveled to Russia in the hopes of finding work before finding themselves on the front lines.
Mr. Zelenskyy has paraded the two mercenaries as evidence that China is supporting Russia’s war efforts, despite Beijing’s neutral position. He says more than 150 Chinese nationals are fighting for Russia on the front lines.
