Xi meets Putin as Ukraine reports ceasefire violations

China's Xi Jinping was in Moscow on Thursday for a state visit ahead of the Kremlin's grand Victory Day celebrations, as Ukraine accused Russia's army of launching air strikes just hours into a supposed truce.

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More than 20 foreign leaders are in Russia to attend a vast military parade on Friday marking 80 years since the defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II, taking place three years into Russia's offensive in Ukraine.

Putin ordered troops into Ukraine in February 2022 and has marshalled the memory of Soviet victory against Nazi Germany to justify his campaign and rally society behind the offensive, which has killed tens of thousands of people.

In a meeting in the Kremlin, Putin told Xi: "Together with our Chinese friends, we firmly stand on guard of historical truth, protect the memory of events of the war years and counter modern manifestations of neo-Nazism and militarism."

Russian society has seen unprecedented militarization during the Ukraine conflict and the Kremlin has tightly controlled the memory of World War II.

Putin claimed that his offensive against Ukraine is aimed at "de-Nazifying" the country, which Kyiv called "incomprehensible".

Russia has captured swathes of Ukrainian territory and flattened cities and towns across the east with daily bombardments, forcing millions to flee their homes.