Watch: Putin Courts Xi With Full Pomp

Russian President Vladimir Putin treated Chinese President Xi Jinping to a bright fanfare and a long red carpet walk as the two leaders met at the Kremlin ahead of the Victory Day parade in Moscow on May 9.

The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs posted a video of the formal greeting on social media, after which Putin hailed his "dear friend" Xi ahead of the celebrations to mark 80 years since the end of World War II in Europe.

China is a vital strategic partner of Russia and—amid punitive Western sanctions— Beijing's oil purchases have provided economic support to Moscow following its invasion of Ukraine...