Xi Jinping arrived in Russia this week and wasted no time locking arms with Vladimir Putin like it was some political prom night.

The four-day visit included military parades, joint statements, red carpets, and a clear message to the United States—Trump’s not in control of this alliance, and they’re not afraid to show it. 

Xi didn’t come alone either. Nearly 30 other world leaders flew in for the occasion, but it was his presence that gave Putin what he wanted—proof that Russia still had friends while the US tries to box him in.

Xi stepped off the plane and got right to business, standing next to Putin in one of the Kremlin’s flashiest halls. The two didn’t just exchange pleasantries—they revived the “no-limits” partnership they had first declared in 2022, just before Russia invaded Ukraine. 

They both claimed the world needs a new balance of power, one that doesn’t put America on top. Putin called their relationship “equal and mutually beneficial” and said it wasn’t tied to current world affairs. Xi called Putin an “old friend” and described their ties as “confident, stable and resilient.”

Putin uses parade to push global support

During the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II, Putin leaned hard into symbolism. Standing with Xi, he praised the “sacred” victory over Nazi Germany, saying the win still matters today. He made the usual stretch, linking that historical fight to his current war in Ukraine, which he keeps trying to sell as a battle against modern fascists. 

“Together with our Chinese friends, we firmly stand guard over historical truth,” Putin said, “protect the memory of the events of the war years, and counteract modern manifestations of neo-Nazism and militarism.”

That narrative’s been rejected flat-out by Ukraine and much of the West, who say Putin is using fake justifications for an invasion. Still, the Victory Day parade rolled on. Chinese troops made up the biggest foreign unit in the show, marching alongside soldiers from Vietnam, Belarus, Laos, Mongolia, and Egypt. 

Robert Tollast, a researcher at the Royal United Services Institute in London, said this display shows both countries believe they’ve got “nothing to lose.” He said the way Putin and Xi are handling America signals their patience with diplomacy is over. The alliance is open, and it’s real.

China keeps Russia afloat while Trump scrambles

Putin needed this visit. With US and EU sanctions hammering his economy since 2022, Russia’s been gasping for support. Xi delivered. While China claims it’s neutral in the Ukraine war, it’s also quietly buying tons of Russian oil and selling parts like microchips that keep Russia’s drones and missiles flying.

Xi said the China-Russia friendship is “a natural continuation” of a long-standing bond, and that both nations would protect the interests of developing countries while promoting “multipolar economic globalization.”

For Putin, this wasn’t just about foreign optics. It was about telling the people back home he’s still got powerful allies. Stephen Hall, a politics lecturer at the University of Bath, said Xi’s visit and the appearance of other leaders from Latin America, Africa, and Asia help Putin push the idea that Russia isn’t isolated. He still wants to look like a reliable global player, even if the US wants to keep him boxed out.

Meanwhile, Trump is trying to fix things with China while watching Xi and Putin cozy up. During an event where he announced a new trade deal with the UK, Trump admitted tariffs on Chinese goods—some as high as 145%—might come down. 

He said, “You can’t get any higher. It’s at 145, so we know it’s coming down.” A meeting between US and Chinese trade officials is planned this weekend in Switzerland, and Trump tried to spin it positively. “I think it’s a very friendly meeting,” he said. “They look forward to doing it in an elegant way.”

Xi first called Putin his “best friend” in 2019 during a state visit to Moscow. He said, “Russia is the country that I have visited the most times, and President Putin is my best friend and colleague.” Putin has responded in kind ever since, calling Xi a “dear friend” during their most recent meeting in Beijing in May 2024.

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