Putin and Xi Present a United Front as They Face an Unpredictable Trump

President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia and Xi Jinping, the leader of China, presented their countries as guardians of stability and historical memory on Thursday, at a meeting in Moscow a day before celebrations to mark the 80th anniversary of the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany in World War II.

The leaders made public remarks ahead of talks in the Kremlin, part of a separate state visit that Moscow has organized for Mr. Xi, its most important partner. The Chinese leader will also attend a military parade in Red Square on Friday.

Both Mr. Putin and Mr. Xi are having to deal with the unpredictability of President Trump — the Russian president in talks over Ukraine and the Chinese leader in a bruising trade war. Each has sought to present their countries as alternative world powers looking to bring about what they call a more equal, multipolar world.

Mr. Trump had employed some of the same nationalist grievance politics and disinformation strategies that Mr. Putin and Mr. Xi have used to cement their power at home, but has failed to reach a deal with either leader since returning to the White House. Talks with Moscow over the war in Ukraine have not curbed the fighting and U.S. officials are set to begin trade negotiations in Switzerland this week with their Chinese counterparts.

In Moscow, the summit took place as Mr. Putin was set to welcome what the Kremlin expects to be more than 25 world leaders to the Red Square celebrations. The guests include a veritable “Who’s Who” of authoritarians, with the presidents of Venezuela, Cuba, Equatorial Guinea and Belarus expected to attend.

But none of the leaders is more important to Moscow than Mr. Xi.

Russia’s isolation from the West over its full-scale invasion of Ukraine has dramatically increased Moscow’s dependence on Beijing. China has supported Mr. Putin’s war effort by buying Russian oil, supplying dual-use components for Russian equipment and replacing departed Western brands with Chinese consumer goods. Beijing, however, has stopped short of overt military intervention or support.