Putin and Xi talk up alliance in rebuke to US world order

Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin exchanged warm words in the Kremlin yesterday during a grand ceremony to welcome China's leader for his 11th visit to Russia, before a military parade to mark 80 years since the end of the second world war.

- Amy Hawkins Pjotr Sauer

After nearly four hours of talks, Xi described his meeting with his Russian counterpart as "in-depth, friendly and fruitful".

Calling Xi a "dear friend", Putin said the talks were "warm and substantive" and ties between Russia and China were stronger than ever before.

Putin announced plans to visit China in the autumn to mark the anniversary of Japan's defeat in the second world war.

The two leaders presented a united front in opposition to a US-led global order they openly reject. Their display of solidarity comes as Donald Trump, the US president, wages a trade war against China and tries to push Russia toward peace talks over Ukraine. While Russia has expressed a desire to repair relations with the US, seeing the potential for lucrative business deals, significant differences remain over how to end the war. Moscow continues to stand by its maximalist demands, showing little willingness to compromise.

This week, JD Vance, the US vice-president, said Russia was asking for "too much" in its negotiations over Ukraine, in the latest sign of frustration in Washington.