Xi Jinping Remains In Moscow Although Russia-Ukraine Continue To Attack Each Other

Chinese President Xi Jinping with Russian President Vladimir Putin / DOC Alexei Maishev / POOL / TASS

JAKARTA - Chinese President Xi Jinping remains in Moscow to attend the 80th anniversary parade of the end of World War II as well as the Soviet Union's victory over the Nazis, even though Russia and Ukraine are still attacking each other.

On the website of China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Wednesday, May 7 afternoon, President Xi Jinping had left Beijing on a special plane to Moscow.

Xi's visit to Russia was to make state visits and attend the 80th anniversary of the Victory of the Great Patriotic War. He was accompanied by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and the Chief of Staff of the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party Cai Qi.

His departure to Moscow was only one day from a Ukrainian attack on Moscow using a drone on Tuesday (6/5) resulting in four major Moscow airports being closed for several hours.

The mayor of Moscow reported that 19 Ukrainian unmanned aircraft had been intercepted from various directions, other areas such as Penza and Voronezh were also targeted. No casualties were reported from the attack.

"China's position on the issue of the Ukraine crisis is consistent and clear. We have been committed to encouraging negotiations for peace and ending the conflict," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian said at a press conference in Beijing on Wednesday.

Most of the countries in the international community, said Lin Jian, also played a constructive role in their own way for the political resolution of the Ukraine crisis.

"The urgent priority is to avoid escalation of tensions, and related parties need to build consensus and create conditions for this," added Lin Jian.

The big parade is scheduled to take place on May 9, 2025 to mark the victory of the Soviet Union and its allies over Nazi Germany. This year is the commemoration of the 80th anniversary of the end of PD II and will be attended by world leaders, including Chinese President Xi Jinping.

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, Vietnamese President To Lam and Belarusian leader Aleksandr Lukashenko are among the 20 heads of state expected to attend.

In addition, troops from 13 countries will take part in the parade including from Azerbaijan, Vietnam, China, and Egypt.

"The people of China and the people of all ethnic groups in the former Soviet Union have made enormous sacrifices and an unforgettable historical contribution to securing victory," said Lin Jian.

"China's presence shows we respect and remember history and are strongly determined to defend the winning results of World War II," he continued.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has called for a ceasefire for three days starting May 8, but Ukraine has not responded.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky rejected Russia's ceasefire plan as a "sandiwar", but he pushed for a ceasefire of at least 30 days that would stop missile and drone attacks against civilian targets.

He also reportedly said Ukraine could not guarantee the safety of anyone traveling to Moscow this week.

Ukraine's foreign ministry even called for "All foreign countries to refrain from participating as military personnel in parades in Moscow".

In a statement on Tuesday (6/5), it was said that participation in the event would "take Ukraine considers an insult to the memory of victory over Nazisme and millions of Ukrainian frontline soldiers who freed our country and all of Europe from Nazism eight decades ago".

Meanwhile, Russian drones on Tuesday (6/5) reportedly attacked the cities of Sumy, Kharkiv, and Odesa, killing four people and injuring at least 24 others, according to local officials. Ukraine reports it has crashed 54 Russian drones.