China’s victory day: How Russia is paying highest price for Xi’s support

Victory Day is the biggest holiday in today’s Russia, and most people expect it to be grand, flashy, and over-the-top. It’s also used to display Russia’s power and suggest it’s not isolated from the world — even if the main star is China’s leader, Xi Jinping.

If you look closely at the guest list for the Victory Day event in Moscow, it gives the impression that World War II was won by Russia and China, Central Asia, a few poor African countries, Mongolia, and maybe a little bit Brazil.

Notably, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán chose not to attend. A potential trip would’ve caused a major rift in his Fidesz party. Hungary, after all, wasn’t among the victors in World War II, and there’s another reason: the European Union threatened to withhold funding.

Another pro-Russian figure, Robert Fico, made his way to Moscow through back channels. The Slovak leader is hoping to strike a deal for cheap Russian gas, as his country’s economic situation is far from stable.

Vietnam, Myanmar, Armenia, and African leaders came for money and arms support. For them, today’s Russia is a situational ally. So, whether they like it or not, they have to go to Moscow, bow down, and take part in Putin's show.

One appearance that sparked outrage was Brazil’s. Despite having a large Ukrainian diaspora, the country hasn’t imposed sanctions on Russia since the full-scale invasion. It even proposed a “peace plan” that essentially rewarded Moscow for occupying Ukrainian territory. Whether due to weak diplomacy or lost ties with the Ukrainian community, the result is clear: Brazil maintains friendly relations with Russia for resource access and uses those ties to influence the Global South.

The main beneficiary of this year's Victory Day spectacle is China. Xi Jinping traveled to Russia for a full four days, and ahead of his arrival, Russian media flooded the airwaves with messages that Moscow and Beijing are “brothers forever”—so tightly bound that no one could ever separate them.

This sends a clear message to Donald Trump and his team — a sign that Kissinger’s strategic triangle has flipped. Now, two powers are aligned against the third. Xi is signaling that Russia is his asset, and nothing will stop China from tapping into the resources of the Russian Far East.

The Central Asian countries and Mongolia mainly attended for meetings with Xi Jinping, signaling their willingness to become vassals of China.

During a tea meeting in Moscow on May 8, Xi Jinping said China hopes to achieve a “just, solid, and binding peace agreement accepted by all parties involved” through dialogue.

Bloomberg reported that though Xi didn’t specify what such an agreement would look like, this is likely the first time the Chinese leader personally outlined principles for ending Russia's war against Ukraine.

But then Xi added that Russia and China should be “inseparable friends” and promised to elevate cooperation to a new level, “resolutely” resisting U.S. influence.

It’s possible that this year China will engage in a diplomatic game to end the war, but with its own interests at heart.

For a long time, many Ukrainians, and honestly, the Ukrainian government, sincerely hoped that China could help them. All they had to do was ask.

But in their joint statements, Xi and Putin agreed that the war in Ukraine could only end once its “root causes” were eliminated. This is just a rehash of key Russian talking points — Russia invaded Ukraine because it was allegedly threatened by NATO and accused of “hating” Russian speakers.

At the parade, Putin compared the "special military operation" to World War II, called Russia "an obstacle to the proponents of Nazism," and mentioned Odesa as one of the cities that resisted the Third Reich’s aggressors the most. This is an interesting choice, given that Russian forces almost daily attack Odesa with missiles and drones.

According to Putin, Russia "remembers the lessons of World War II" and "remains an obstacle to the supporters of Nazism, Russophobia, and anti-Semitism." Notably, veterans involved in occupying Ukraine have now been placed on the same level as World War II veterans. This means that in future May 9th parades, Russians will march alongside those who took part in torturing and raping Ukrainians.

This event was meant to lift the Russian dictator out of international isolation, but ironically, it only showcased China’s triumph. It seemed as if China had won World War II, with the Russians and others merely supplying the ammunition.

As noted by several political analysts, an interpreter sat next to Xi and didn’t hesitate to loudly translate what was happening at the parade. This was audible in the broadcast. However, the Russians will have to get used to the fate of becoming China’s vassal — in exchange for supporting Putin, China will impose a hefty price on Russia.

For the West, this is a valuable lesson on how to create two monsters with your own money — monsters who now want to carve up your body for lunch.

Exclusively for Espreso

About the author: Maryna Danyliuk-Yarmolaieva, journalist

The editorial team does not always share the opinions expressed by the blog authors.