Xi and Putin vow stronger ties at Russia's World War II Victory Day parade ahead of U.S.-China trade talks

Russia marked the 80th anniversary of the Soviet Union’s victory over Nazi Germany in World War II on Friday with a parade attended by China's Xi Jinping.

MOSCOW — Russia marked the 80th anniversary of the World War II victory over Nazi Germany on Friday with a parade attended by Chinese President Xi Jinping, as the two countries vowed to strengthen ties and “firmly” counter U.S. influence.

Amid tight security after Ukrainian drone attacks on Moscow this week, thousands of Russian troops marched on Red Square, with military units from China and 12 other countries also taking part.

For Russian President Vladimir Putin, who is the subject of an arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court over alleged war crimes in Ukraine, the parade was an opportunity to show that he is not isolated on the global stage. It also casts a spotlight on the post-WWII, U.S.-led international order that President Donald Trump now appears bent on dismantling, leaving Russia and China to portray themselves as its defenders.

Xi signaled his support for Putin in both actions and words, arriving on Wednesday for a four-day visit shortly after the Ukrainian drone attacks disrupted flights in and out of Moscow.

“China will work with Russia to shoulder the special responsibilities of major world powers,” Xi told Putin on Thursday, adding that the two countries should be “friends of steel.”