Russian President Vladimir Putin is set to meet with Chinese leader Xi Jinping during a two-day visit to Beijing from May 19-20, 2026, as announced by the Kremlin on Saturday. This visit coincides with the 25th anniversary of the 2001 Sino-Russian Treaty of Friendship, reflecting the deepening ties between the two nations in recent years.
The two leaders aim to discuss various aspects of bilateral relations, alongside examining "key international and regional issues" and enhancing economic cooperation. Their meeting comes on the heels of U.S. President Donald Trump's recent state visit to China, where he also held discussions with Xi on trade and the ongoing conflict involving Iran.
Relations between China and Russia have significantly strengthened, particularly since the onset of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in early 2022. This military action has left Moscow increasingly isolated on the global stage, leading to a greater reliance on Beijing for trade amid widespread Western sanctions. During Putin’s previous visit to China in September 2025, Xi referred to him as an "old friend," and both leaders emphasized their personal rapport.
Additionally, Putin is expected to return to China later this year for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Shenzhen in November 2026. This continued engagement highlights the growing strategic alignment between the two countries as they navigate complex international challenges.
On another front, Ukraine has repatriated the remains of fallen soldiers on Saturday after a prisoner exchange with Moscow. Ukraine's Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War reported that 528 bodies, which Russia claims may belong to Ukrainian servicemen, were transferred. Ukrainian officials have stated that experts will undertake necessary measures to identify the returned deceased.
This repatriation follows a previous exchange on Friday, where Russia and Ukraine swapped 205 prisoners of war, marking a first phase in a planned larger swap of 1,000 POWs from each side. Many of the Ukrainian soldiers included in this exchange had been captured during intense battles since 2022.
Meanwhile, hostilities persist as Russia launched drone attacks against Ukraine's southern Odesa region on Saturday, impacting civilian infrastructure. Regional authorities indicated that Russian drones targeted a five-story apartment block and a residential building, resulting in two injuries. Ukraine’s Air Force confirmed that out of 294 drones launched, 269 were intercepted.
Conversely, Russia claimed that its defense forces shot down 138 Ukrainian drones over 14 regions, including Moscow. Attacks on the annexed Ukrainian peninsula of Crimea and aquatic regions like the Black Sea and Azov Sea were also reported.
In response, Ukrainian attacks resulted in civilian casualties in Russia's Belgorod region, which borders Ukraine. Local officials reported that a Ukrainian drone strike killed one man in the village of Krasnaya Yaruga, and another civilian lost his life when a strike hit his home in Dubovoye. Additionally, an apartment block in Belgorod suffered damage from separate attacks.
