Chinese leader Xi Jinping arrived in Moscow on Wednesday for a four-day state visit during which he will sit down with Russian leader Vladimir Putin and attend events celebrating the 80th anniversary of the Allied triumph over Nazi Germany. The visit will end in the Red Square Victory Day parade.
This marks Xi’s 11th visit to Russia since 2013, according to Russian news agency TASS. The Chinese leader is accompanied by Foreign Minister Wang Yi, who earlier held a phone conversation with India’s National Security Advisor Ajit Doval regarding India’s recently launched Operation Sindoor.
The Indian operation, which was initiated early on Wednesday, hit nine militant camps in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and Punjab in response to the April 22 terrorist strike in Pahalgam that claimed 26 lives. The matter is likely to come up for discussion between Xi and Putin, with speculation that the two leaders will discuss escalating India-Pakistan tensions during their tea-time private meeting.
Kremlin foreign policy adviser Yuri Ushakov explained that the leaders will also address sensitive international issues such as Russia’s relations with the United States and the Ukraine conflict before negotiating in broader delegation-level talks.
Experts opine that although China is a longtime friend of Pakistan, rising economic relations with India make Chinese military aid to Islamabad unlikely. Certain Russian experts are of the view that Moscow may act as a mediator but recommend behind-the-scenes diplomacy through back channels.
After Thursday’s talks in the Kremlin, Xi and Putin will issue a joint statement and give a press conference, which may set out the measures to defuse tensions between India and Pakistan. Diplomatic jockeying is in response to mounting fears over regional stability after the Pahalgam attack and India’s robust military response.
