Victory Day 2025: Chinese and Brazilian Leaders Visit Russia Amid Ukraine Conflict
Latest news today: Chinese President Xi Jinping and the Brazilian Premier arrive in Russia for Victory Day 2025 celebrations, as tensions rise over Ukraine drone attacks on Moscow.
Latest news today: In a bold diplomatic move, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva have arrived in Moscow to attend the 80th Victory Day parade Russia’s annual commemoration of the end of World War II. This year’s event comes under the shadow of ongoing conflict with Ukraine, which has launched a series of drone strikes on the Russian capital in recent days.
Victory Day, celebrated on May 9, marks the Soviet Union’s triumph over Nazi Germany in 1945. While the occasion is historically significant, this year’s parade is taking place in a sharply divided global landscape.
Global Leaders in Attendance Amid Sanctions and War(Victory Day 2025)
Despite Western pressure to isolate Russia over its invasion of Ukraine, 29 international leaders are attending this year’s parade making it one of the largest turnouts since the war began in 2022. This includes leaders from China, Brazil, India (invited but declined), Belarus, and several Central Asian nations.
The large turnout has pushed the event into Top 10 news today, highlighting the global split in foreign policy over how to engage with Moscow during wartime. Many political analysts see this as a direct challenge to Western sanctions and diplomatic efforts to contain the Kremlin’s influence.
Breaking News: Ukrainian Drones Hit Moscow Hours Before Parade
In one of the most alarming developments leading up to the celebrations, Ukrainian drones targeted Moscow just hours before the parade was set to begin. According to Russian officials, more than 19 drones were intercepted overnight by air defense systems. Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed that Russia launched over 140 attack drones and ballistic strikes on Kyiv and other major cities.
This tit-for-tat warfare forms one of the major breaking news stories of the week and has resulted in significant civilian casualties, damage to infrastructure, and mass evacuations in Ukraine. In response, air raid sirens rang out across Kyiv, Kharkiv, and Sumy highlighting the war’s relentless grip on the region.
Xi Jinping and Putin: A Strategic Partnership on Display
As part of his four-day visit, Xi Jinping is expected to hold bilateral talks with President Vladimir Putin to discuss trade expansion, military cooperation, and the Power of Siberia 2 gas pipeline a critical energy route that could supply China with up to 50 billion cubic meters of natural gas annually.
Xi’s visit reinforces what both countries have called a “no limits” partnership, first declared in early 2022. The alliance is particularly vital for Russia, whose economy has come under strain from Western sanctions. Bilateral trade between the two nations hit a record $245 billion in 2024, a 66% jump from pre-war levels.
Travel Disruptions: Moscow Airports on Alert
The Ukrainian drone strikes caused massive travel disruptions in and around Moscow. Aeroflot canceled over 100 flights, with an additional 140 delayed. Several international airlines rerouted flights, and Moscow’s Vnukovo and Domodedovo airports were briefly closed.
The Serbian president’s plane was even forced to land in Baku, Azerbaijan, due to restricted airspace. These disruptions are currently among the Top 10 news today in global travel advisories.
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