The Kremlin said that Putin would have a one-to-one meeting with his Chinese counterpart on Monday and hold further negotiations on Tuesday, followed by a statement to the press.

Mr Xi is also reportedly planning to call Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky after his Moscow visit, their first interaction since the invasion.

China has insisted it remains neutral in the conflict, and has called for a ceasefire without offering a concrete proposal on how to achieve a resolution.

Beijing has even offered to help broker peace talks, but Western nations doubt China’s credibility and impartiality, given Mr Xi has touted a “no limits” friendship with Putin.

Yesterday it emerged that Chinese companies, including state-owned defence contractors, have sent assault rifles, drone parts and body armour to Russia, according to a report by Politico based on customs data from the second half of last year.

Some of the items being shipped by China are dual-use – commercial goods that could be used for military purposes.

Beijing continues to refrain from criticising Putin, going to lengths not to call the war an “invasion”, instead terming it “the Ukraine crisis”.

In a 12-point “political settlement” statement, released on the one-year anniversary of the war, China demanded an end to Western sanctions against Russia, and for nuclear facilities to be secured.

The US has issued sanctions against Chinese firms for providing goods and services that it said supported Russia’s operations in Ukraine.

One Chinese space satellite firm was blacklisted for providing imagery over Ukraine, and a group of companies was sanctioned for supplying parts for Iranian drones used by Russia.

Mr Xi’s visit to Russia follows a flurry of calls that Ukrainian foreign minister Dmytro Kuleba held separately with US secretary of state Antony Blinken and Chinese counterpart Qin Gang.

Kremlin insiders say Putin’s outlook has changed in recent weeks, and the Russian leader appears more relaxed and cheerful than he has been for months.

Six months ago, he watched from the Kremlin as the Russian army appeared to be on the brink of an embarrassing collapse in Ukraine. He was forced into a humiliating public apology to Mr Xi for his invasion of Ukraine and an economic meltdown.

But Putin yesterday cracked jokes during a two-hour speech and question and answer session with Russian oligarchs.

“Putin was joking a lot at this meeting. He is pleased with how the Russian economy has withstood the blow of total sanctions,” said Sergei Markov, a former Russian presidential adviser and a pro-Kremlin commentator. (© Telegraph Media Group Ltd 2023)

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