'Together with our Chinese friends, we firmly stand guard over historical truth, protect the memory of the events of the war years, and counteract modern manifestations of neo-Nazism and militarism', making a thinly veiled reference to his own justification to his invasion of Ukraine.

The Russian president applauded China and Russia's partnership and called "the combat brotherhood" of the two nations a key pillar to its strategic cooperation, as Moscow's all-out war in Ukraine continues.