Putin Holds Victory Day Summit Marathon... First China-Russia Leader Meeting Since Trump Took Office

Starting with Venezuela, More Than 15 Bilateral Meetings
Russia Showcases Resilience... Strengthening Alliances to Counter the West

Russian President Vladimir Putin will hold a series of meetings on May 7 (local time) with world leaders visiting Russia, including Chinese President Xi Jinping, to mark the 80th anniversary of Victory Day (May 9), which commemorates the end of World War II. The purpose is to showcase Russia's resilience despite its isolation in the international community since the start of the war with Ukraine in 2022, and to strengthen alliances aimed at countering the West.

On this day, President Putin met with Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro at the Kremlin in Moscow and signed a treaty on strategic partnership and cooperation. President Maduro was the first of the 29 leaders invited to Victory Day to meet with President Putin. According to TASS, the treaty includes provisions for improving defense relations, conducting military-technical cooperation, and opposing unilateral sanctions. The two leaders also agreed to expand cooperation in the energy sector.

Russian President Vladimir Putin (left) shakes hands with Chinese President Xi Jinping during a meeting in Beijing, China, on October 18, 2023. On the 8th, President Putin and President Xi will hold a summit in Moscow. The two leaders are expected to discuss trade and Russian energy supply and sign multiple agreements. This visit to Russia is President Xi's 11th since taking office and his first since the inauguration of the second term of the U.S. Donald Trump administration. Sputnik/Yonhap

President Putin also held meetings with Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel, Mongolian President Ukhnaagiin Khurelsukh, and Congolese President Denis Sassou Nguesso. According to Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov the previous day, President Putin is scheduled to hold bilateral talks with leaders from more than 15 of the 29 countries invited to Victory Day.

Political analyst Nikolai Petrov told the Associated Press, "For President Putin, this is an important day to demonstrate how broad the coalition supporting Russia is."

On May 8, President Putin will hold a summit with President Xi. President Xi, who is on a state visit to Russia from May 7 to 10, arrived in Moscow that afternoon. This visit marks President Xi's 11th trip to Russia since taking office and his first since the inauguration of the second term of the U.S. Donald Trump administration. President Putin has previously referred to President Xi as the "main guest" of the Victory Day events.

In addition to the summit, the two leaders are expected to continue informal conversations over breakfast and tea. Aide Ushakov stated that the two countries plan to discuss trade, Russia's oil and gas supplies to China, and cooperation with BRICS countries. The British daily The Guardian reported that the two leaders are expected to discuss the planned construction of the "Power of Siberia 2" gas pipeline, sign multiple agreements, and further strengthen China-Russia relations.

According to Xinhua News Agency, President Xi issued a statement upon his arrival, saying, "As major powers and permanent members of the United Nations Security Council, China and Russia will work together to safeguard the outcomes of World War II, firmly uphold the international system based on the United Nations and international law and order, and resolutely oppose hegemony and power politics."

On the evening of May 8, a large welcome reception for foreign leaders will be held. On Victory Day, May 9, President Putin and foreign leaders will watch a military parade in Red Square and lay wreaths at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Afterwards, President Putin is scheduled to hold meetings with Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, and Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev. President Putin is also scheduled to hold a series of meetings on May 10.

President Lula, who arrived in Russia on this day, previously visited Russia twice during his 2003-2010 term. Despite warnings from the European Union, President Vucic and Prime Minister Fico also traveled to Russia.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stated, "This shows that Russia has not only allies but also many countries that share our ideology and worldview."

For this year's Victory Day military parade, North Korea will be represented by an ambassador-level official, and the North Korean military will not participate in the march. However, aide Ushakov mentioned there would be an "interesting meeting," suggesting the possibility of separate contact between North Korea and Russia.

Meanwhile, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Laotian President Thongloun Sisoulith reportedly canceled their visits due to domestic events and COVID-19, respectively. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, originally expected to attend as the leader of one of Russia's key allies, also canceled his trip following heightened tensions with Pakistan after the Kashmir terror incident.