A Blog by Jonathan Low

 

May 11, 2025

China's Xi Moscow Parade Visit Was "To Show That Russia Is On China's Leash"

Chinese leader Xi's presence at this year's annual Moscow 'victory' parade was a message. But not to Ukraine, according to that country's former foreign minister. It was, instead, intended for the US and President Trump. 

It was designed to show that China is now the dominant partner in the Russia-Iran-China relationship, that the Kremlin "is already on China's leash," and that China, not Putin, will decide what is best for the future of relations with the US and the west. JL

New Voice of Ukraine reports
:

Chinese leader Xi Jinping’s appearance at the May 9 military parade in Moscow is a calculated signal to both Vladimir Putin and the US, said Volodymyr Ohryzko, former Ukrainian Foreign Minister. Xi’s presence, accompanied by a Chinese military delegation marching through Red Square, demonstrates Beijing’s growing sway over Moscow and is meant to underscore China’s dominance. China now plays the role of “senior partner” in the countries relationship, controlling key levers of the Russian economy and foreign policy. "This is not about celebration or military pomp. Xi came to inspect the Kremlin, to define Putin’s limits, and to show Trump that Russia is already on China’s leash.”
Chinese leader Xi Jinping’s appearance at the May 9 military parade in Moscow is a calculated signal to both Vladimir Putin and the United States, Volodymyr Ohryzko, former Ukrainian FM and Center for Russian Studies head told Radio NV on May 9.

 

Xi’s presence, accompanied by a Chinese military delegation marching through Red Square, demonstrates Beijing’s growing sway over Moscow. The visit coincided with renewed discussions of the Power of Siberia 2 gas pipeline — an infrastructure project that, as Ohryzko noted, will benefit China almost exclusively, as Russia is expected to finance it and sell gas at near-cost prices. He expressed confidence that Xi’s visit is meant to underscore China’s dominance over Russia and shatter US hopes of peeling Moscow away from Beijing.

 

“This is not about a celebration or military pomp,” Ohryzko said.

“Xi came to inspect the Kremlin, to define Putin’s limits, and to show Trump that Russia is already on China’s leash.”

In a joint statement with Putin, Xi called for addressing the “root causes” of the war in Ukraine — language that closely mirrors Russian propaganda and suggests Beijing’s alignment with the Kremlin's narrative.

“This wasn’t a signal to Ukraine,” said Ohryzko.

“It was a message to Trump: forget any fantasies about wooing Russia away from China.”

He argues that China now plays the role of “senior partner” in the countries relationship, controlling key levers of the Russian economy and foreign policy. This positioning, Ohryzko added, confirms Beijing’s role in the authoritarian “axis of evil” seeking to counter Western democracy.

 

For the United States, and especially for President Trump — who has previously suggested he could broker peace in Ukraine — the visit limits strategic options. According to Ohryzko, the US now faces a binary choice: supply Ukraine with more weapons and impose severe sanctions on Russia, or risk losing leverage altogether.

“Trump promised during his campaign to punish those who don’t comply,” he said.

“Ukraine has done its part. Now the US must act — arm Ukraine and put Russia in its place.”

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