(Reuters)-Ukrainian drones attacked Moscow for the third day on Wednesday, forcing most airports in the Russian capital to close hours before the arrival of Chinese President Xi Jinping for a pompous visit to which Kiev made it clear.
XI, whose country buys more oil and Russian gas than any other, and which gave Moscow an economic aid that helped him circumvent the western sanctions imposed by his war in Ukraine, should arrive on Wednesday night, local time.
When asked during a press conference about the air attacks on both sides to each other’s capitals, China’s Foreign Ministry spokesman did not comment on Xi’s trip, just saying that the “top priority” is to avoid climbing tensions.
Kremlin said attempts at Ukrainian attacks Moscow show Kiev’s tendency to commit “acts of terrorism” and that Russia’s intelligence services and armed forces were doing everything necessary to ensure the safety of the birthday celebrations.
Xi is the most powerful world leader who is expected to participate in a Military Moscow Parade on Friday to mark the 80th anniversary of the Soviet Union victory and his allies about Nazi Germany.
His expected attendance gives President Vladimir Putin an important diplomatic impulse at a time when the Russian leader seeks to show that his country is not isolated on the world scenario. Kremlin has praised Xi’s presence, along with that of 28 other world leaders, as a sign of Russia’s growing global authority.
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But the Ukraine Foreign Ministry-in comments that seemed to China, whose troops should march in the Red Square-on Tuesday asked countries not to send their armed forces to participate in the May 9 parade, saying that such participation would go against the declared neutrality of some countries in war.
Ukrainian authorities said on Wednesday that Russia had launched its own air strike in Kiev at night, killing a mother and her son. Russia states that it only targets military objects.
Drones attacked Moscow
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Moscow mayor Sergei Sobyanin said Russian air defense units destroyed at least 14 Ukrainian drones that went to the Russian capital at night.
Important Moscow airports remained out of operation for most of the night, and Russian airlines were forced to cancel many flights.
Xi defended conversations to end the war in Ukraine and accused the United States of fostering the war with the supply of weapons to Kiev. In the past, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy asked Xi to try to persuade Putin to end the war.
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Xi should keep talks with the Russian leader on Thursday and join other world leaders for the parade on Friday.
