Russian President Vladimir Putin is set to meet Chinese leader Xi Jinping during a two-day trip to Beijing next week, the Kremlin confirmed on Saturday. The announcement comes less than 24 hours after U.S. President Donald Trump concluded his own state visit to China, where he also held talks with Xi on trade and the ongoing U.S. and Israeli war in Iran.
Anniversary Visit
In a statement, the Kremlin said Putin's visit, scheduled for May 19-20, had been timed to coincide with the 25th anniversary of the 2001 Sino-Russian Treaty of Friendship. The two leaders are expected to discuss bilateral relations, "key international and regional issues," and economic cooperation.
Relations between China and Russia have deepened in recent years, particularly since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in early 2022 left Moscow isolated on the global stage and heavily dependent on Beijing for trade amid Western sanctions. When Putin visited China in September 2025, Xi welcomed him as an "old friend," and Putin reciprocated by addressing Xi as "dear friend."
The Russian leader is also scheduled to attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Shenzhen in November.
Repatriation of Bodies and Prisoner Swap
Meanwhile, Ukraine repatriated the bodies of fallen soldiers on Saturday following an earlier exchange with Moscow involving prisoners of war. Russia returned 528 bodies that "according to the Russian side, may belong to Ukrainian servicemen," Ukraine's Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War said in a statement. Experts will now take all necessary measures to identify the deceased.
This follows a swap of 205 prisoners of war on Friday. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said it was the first phase of a planned exchange of 1,000 POWs from each side. Some of the Ukrainians had been held by Russia since 2022 and fought in some of the war's fiercest battles, he added.
Drone Attacks
Russia launched overnight drone attacks on Ukraine's southern Odesa region on Saturday, regional authorities said. Drones struck a five-story apartment block and a one-story residential building, injuring two people, according to regional head Oleh Kiper. The city's port was also damaged. Ukraine's Air Force reported that Russia launched 294 drones overnight, of which 269 were shot down.
Russia's Ministry of Defense said its forces shot down 138 Ukrainian drones overnight over 14 Russian regions, including Moscow. Drones were also destroyed over the annexed Ukrainian peninsula of Crimea, as well as the Black and Azov seas.
