No point in comparing China ceremonies for the visits of Trump and Putin, Kremlin says

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov emphasized that the true significance of the China visits by Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump lies in the substance of their discussions, not the ceremonial optics. He noted that much of the meaningful diplomacy happens beyond what is publicly visible.

Guy Faulconbridge and Gleb Bryanski/Reuters

May 20, 2026

No point in comparing China ceremonies for the visits of Trump and Putin, Kremlin says

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov attends a military parade on Victory Day, marking the 81st anniversary of the victory over Nazi Germany in World War Two, in Red Square in central Moscow, Russia, May 9, 2026.

Sputnik/Ekaterina Shtukina/Reuters

The Kremlin said that there was no point comparing the ceremony in China for the visits of President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump, and that people should focus on the content.

"There is a point in comparing the content," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told state television Kremlin reporter Pavel Zarubin when asked about comparisons with the Trump visit.

"It is not always easy to compare the content as not everything is shown on the surface. However, the main value lies in the content, not in the ceremonial aspects," Peskov added.

-Guy Faulconbridge and Gleb Bryanski/Reuters