Putin embarks on China visit with Ukraine war top of agenda

Analysts say Putin and Xi will aim to align positions during Russian leader's unusually long stay

Vladimir Putin will travel to China this weekend for what the Kremlin has called a truly unprecedented" visit to his most important ally, which comes at a crunch moment in talks over Ukraine.

During the trip, which is expected to stretch to close to a week - unusually long for the Russian leader - he will attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit, hold talks with Xi Jinping, and take in Beijing's Victory Day military parade marking 80 years since Japan's defeat in the second world war, where Putin is due to be the star guest alongside North Korea's Kim Jong-un and leaders of Iran and Cuba.