The Xi-Putin declaration in Moscow on the eve of Victory Day, May 9, holds major geopolitical significance

The joint declaration issued by the Russian President Vladimir Putin and the Chinese President Xi Jinping on the eve of the Victory Day on May 9 upholding longstanding friendship to pursue mutual benefit and win-win outcomes in the new era carries major significance in the present period of global tariff war as also continuation of the war in Ukraine which is still unresolved despite efforts for truce in recent weeks.

- BY NITYA CHAKRABORTY

President Xi Jinping is on state visit to Russia for four days beginning on May 7. He is the only big power attending the Victory Day celebrations organized by the Russian government to commemorate the surrender of the Germans and the end of fascist war in Europe. The other country heads including the UK, France and the USA are not attending. President Trump initially indicated his intention of attending the May 9 programme in Moscow, but he later changed his decision at the persuasion of the Pentagon and the strong opposition from the European nations to a visit which could boost the image of the Russian President Putin.

The joint declaration is a signal to the US President Trump that both China and Russia are united in their stand against the West and Trump’s efforts to make a deal with any one country of the two and use it as a counter to the other, will not succeed. Russia which is isolated in Europe has got full support of China in Putin’s bid to end the war. And similarly, China also is getting the support of Putin in President Xi’s protracted battle against Trump on the tariff rates. During the visit, twenty bilateral cooperation agreements between the two countries were signed. Both the Russian side and the Chinese officials said that the joint statement vindicated the deepening comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries to meet the present geopolitical challenges.

Seasoned political analysts in Moscow have noted that President Putin has projected this year the Victory celebrations on May 9 in the backdrop of the sacrifices made by the Soviet people and the Communist Party which led the battle against the German fascists. Many separate programmes and events have been organized portraying the sacrifices and heroism of the old communist leaders. The Russian communist party sources term this as the opportunism of President Putin to play on the sentiments of the Russian people about the victory against the Germans fascists.