Putin begins diplomatic meetings ahead of Victory Day, Xi meeting set for May 8

Russian President Vladimir Putin has held a series of summits ahead of his country's Victory Day which falls on Friday this week.

Earlier on Wednesday he sat down with his Venezuelan counterpart Nicolás Maduro at the Kremlin.

Also back on Wednesday Chinese President Xi Jinping landed in Moscow for a four-day state visit that includes attending the Victory Day celebration which commemorates 80 years since the end of World War Two.

On the agenda of the summit between China and Russia were issues of mutual interest including trade and stability.