Image source, Reuters

We're hearing more about Xi Jinping's red carpet arrival at the Kremlin now.

China's president and Vladimir Putin were treated to an orchestral rendition of the Chinese and Russian anthems, following a televised walk down lengthy corridors.

They were pictured shaking hands before moving in to the Grand Hall of the Order of St Catherine for talks, which are due to last for a few hours.

A joint statement is expected to be released afterwards, although it's not clear whether the two leaders will also hold a press conference. Russian media's reporting that 250 journalists will be in attendance.

Image source, Reuters

Xi Jinping has arrived at the Kremlin for more talks with President Putin, Russian news agency TASS is reporting.

It's been billed as a more formal session than yesterday's, though we haven't been told exactly what's on the agenda.

We'll bring you more on the meeting - including pictures - as soon as we have it.

Grace Tsoi
Reporting from Hong Kong

Back in China, official media are hailing the friendship between the country and Russia as Xi Jinping continues his visit to Moscow.

In an op-ed published in Russian media yesterday, Xi said: “The two sides uphold the concept of generations-long friendship and win-win cooperation.

"The two sides firmly support each other in pursuing development paths that suit their respective national conditions.”

Other state media has chosen to highlight the fact Russia was the destination for Xi's first foreign visit after he became president of China a decade ago - and this is already his eighth time going back.

Xi’s visit is being portrayed as both a peace mission and a blueprint for relations among the world’s superpowers.

The Global Times said the two leaders’ meeting is a "positive demonstration" of how big nations can peacefully coexist. It contrasted China-Russia relations with the "old cliques" of the West where the power balance is uneven.

Image source, Reuters

We're hearing a bit more now about the lengthy talks Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin held yesterday, which the Kremlin is describing as a "thorough" exchange of views.

Dmitry Peskov, the Kremlin's spokesman, declined to give many details, telling reporters they should wait for a joint statement later today after the two leaders have met again.

He did however reveal that the pair had gone over China's 12-point peace proposal to end the fighting in Ukraine, but wouldn't say what had been discussed, according to a report by Reuters.

"There was a very thorough exchange of views - a serious conversation in the informal part," Peskov said, referring to last night's meeting, which went on for more than four hours.

The Chinese document sets out some general principles but contains no detailed plan for how to end the war, now in its 13th month. It also appears to criticise Western sanctions on Russia, leading countries such as the US to be dismissive of it.

Marita Moloney
Live reporter

There's been a lot of speculation over Xi Jinping's trip to Russia, particularly in the West, against the backdrop of the war in Ukraine and fears China may end up supporting Moscow militarily.

The US made its feelings clear last night, with the White House's National Security Council spokesman calling on Xi to use his visit to urge Vladimir Putin to withdraw troops from Ukraine.

John Kirby said seeking a ceasefire would not be enough.

Putin said yesterday that he and XI would discuss a 12-point plan proposed by the Chinese leader to "settle the acute crisis in Ukraine".

"We're always open for a negotiation process," Putin told a pack of reporters at the Kremlin, before he and Xi enjoyed more than four hours of informal talks.

We reported earlier that Xi Jinping met Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin, hours before his formal sit down with President Putin.

It was during that meeting Xi said Russia and China's relationship was a "strategic partnership".

Anyway, here are the first pictures we're seeing from it.

Image source, AFP

Image source, AFP

Image source, AFP

Image source, Getty Images

As Vladimir Putin welcomed his "dear friend" the president of China, it was announced that Kyiv was awaiting its own special guest: Japanese PM Fumio Kishida.

Japan and China see each other as regional rivals. Since Russia's war in Ukraine began, Tokyo has provided Kyiv with a mixture of humanitarian, financial and non-lethal military aid.

With all this bubbling away, Russia appears to have made efforts today to exert some strength over the Sea of Japan.

Two Russian bomber planes, which are capable of carrying nuclear weapons, flew over the body of water for more than seven hours, escorted by fighter planes, the Russian defence ministry said earlier. It added that the flight was "planned", "carried out in strict compliance with international law" and "made over neutral waters”.

Japan and Russia have had a territorial dispute over islands in the north Pacific since the end of World War Two.

Stephen McDonell
China correspondent, reporting from Beijing

The optics are going to be incredible.

In Moscow, China's President Xi Jinping and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin will be sitting down for talks and – at the same time in Kyiv – Japan’s prime minister will be meeting Volodymyr Zelensky.

The surprise visit to Ukraine by Fumio Kishida places significant pressure on China’s president during his state visit to Russia. The Japanese leader was expected to fly home from India but instead detoured to Poland and then off to Kyiv by train.

Meanwhile, Xi and Putin move into their second day of talks in Moscow, with promises that the discussion will turn to the war in Ukraine.

The Chinese government says it is neutral in the war, but some analysts have described Beijing’s peace plan as a smoke screen designed to make it easier for China to support Russia mid-invasion.

If nothing comes of China’s peace proposals during Xi's trip to Moscow, comparisons will inevitably be made between the leaders of China and Japan and where their priorities have been in terms of the war in Ukraine and global peace more generally.

Xi is reportedly due to have a video call with Zelensky but, until then, the two have not spoken since the start of Russia’s invasion.

It's been a busy day so far for Xi Jinping, who's already sat down with Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin and announced to state media that he's extended an invite to President Putin to visit Beijing "at a time that works for him" this year.

During his meeting with Mishustin, Xi described Beijing and Moscow as "great neighbouring powers" and "comprehensive strategic partners", repeating much of the same language he used yesterday to describe Russia. He also said China would "prioritise the all-round strategic partnership" with Russia.

Back at the Kremlin, later on, Putin and Xi are due to start their formal talks with everything from the war in Ukraine to trade on the agenda.

Image source, Sputnik

While it's unlikely that China can actually broker peace talks between Ukraine and Russia, Kyiv is waiting to hear if a call between Xi and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will take place.

And if all that wasn't enough to digest, Kyiv is expecting an important guest today: Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida. He's making a surprise visit on his way home from India.

There's lots going on, but stay with us for timely updates and analysis.

Here's the moment China's leader Xi Jinping was warmly greeted by Russia's honour guards after he landed in Moscow yesterday.

Image source, AFP

China’s Xi Jinping and Russia’s Vladimir Putin will begin formal conversations today, the second day of Xi’s state visit to Moscow. But before then, let’s remember what happened yesterday.

Xi... arrived in Moscow, was greeted by a military orchestra and went straight to the Kremlin to have, what we've been told was, an informal meal and one-to-one with Putin.

After a busy few days... dealing with the International Criminal Court’s arrest warrant for him for alleged war crimes, Putin welcomed Xi - his “dear friend” - to the Kremlin.

The pair... also said they'd discuss China’s proposal for a peace plan in Ukraine.

While Putin and Xi... chatted in Moscow, the US authorised $350m (£285m) worth of additional military aid to Ukraine, with American Secretary of State Antony Blinken warning that "the world should not be fooled by any tactical move by Russia, supported by China or any other country, to freeze the war on its own terms".

The UK and Ukrainian governments... on the other hand, urged Xi to use his trip to bring an end to the war in Ukraine.

Sam Hancock
Live reporter

Thanks for rejoining our live coverage of Chinese President Xi Jinping's state visit to Moscow, which has entered its second day.

It seems the pair had quite the catch up last night, with more than four hours of informal talks thought to have taken place at the Kremlin.

Today, we're expecting more formal discussions, press statements and possibly some kind of photo opportunity - all of which we'll bring you as it happens.

High up on the agenda of issues to discuss is, presumably, the war in Ukraine and Beijing's 12-point peace proposal to resolve the conflict, which Vladimir Putin said yesterday he had studied. A surprise visit to Kyiv by the Japanese prime minister could also make today's proceedings interesting.

It's me here in London, along with my colleague Ece Goksedef. We'll be joined by other colleagues later on. As always, we're getting updates and analysis from our colleagues on the ground too, so stay tuned.

Sam Hancock
Live reporter

We're going to pause our live coverage of President Xi's state visit to Moscow. We'll be back tomorrow though, to bring you the latest updates and analysis.

It's been a big day for Xi and his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, with the Chinese leader making his first visit to Russia since it invaded Ukraine last year.

The pair are having what we're told is an informal meal and one-to-one chat this evening, before official talks and press statements tomorrow. Ukraine's thought to be high on the agenda but we'll have to wait and see what - if anything - is agreed.

What we do know from the first look of their meeting, which we reported on earlier, is that Xi and Putin seem as close as ever.

It was a big team effort here in London today, so thank you to those who wrote the page: Malu Cursino, Ece Goksedef, Emily McGarvey, Laura Gozzi and James Harness. And to my fellow editor, Jeremy Gahagan. Thanks also to our colleagues on the ground in China, Russia and Ukraine.

We'll be back tomorrow, see you then.

Image source, Reuters

We're going to pause this live coverage shortly but before then, here's a reminder of what's happened today.

China's President Xi Jinping... arrived in Moscow and sat down for "informal talks" with Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Kremlin, as part of his two-day visit to Russia. Official talks are due to tae place tomorrow.

Putin... welcomed his "dear friend" Xi to Russia and said Russia had carefully studied China's 12-point peace plan for a resolution of the Ukraine conflict.

Xi... said he was convinced Putin would have the support of the Russian people at next year's presidential election and commended his "strong leadership".

The UK and Ukrainian governments... urged Xi to use his trip to bring an end to the war in Ukraine but, as Chatham House senior research fellow Dr Yu Jie put it earlier, China's close ties with Russia could mean any mediation efforts by Beijing are called into question by Ukraine and the West.

Meanwhile, EU countries... have agreed a €2bn (£1.75bn) plan to give one million artillery shells to Ukraine over the next year.

In a strong show of solidarity, Xi Jinping told Vladimir Putin earlier that he believed the Russian leader would be re-elected at Russia's next presidential election.

He told Putin that thanks to his "strong leadership, Russia has achieved significant success in reaching prosperity".

The pair were sitting down for the beginning of talks - both formal and informal - due to last until Wednesday.

Image source, AFP

While Vladimir Putin hosts Chinese President Xi Jinping at the Kremlin, thousands of miles away the US has authorised $350m (£285m) worth of additional military aid to Ukraine.

American Secretary of State Antony Blinken says this round of military assistance includes ammunition for howitzers, missiles, anti-tank weapons and riverine boats. "The world should not be fooled by any tactical move by Russia, supported by China or any other country, to freeze the war on its own terms," he tells reporters.

Blinken comments on Xi’s state visit, saying his "trip to Russia after the International Criminal Court’s action suggests that China doesn’t think the Kremlin should be held accountable for atrocities in Ukraine”.

The war in Ukraine is thought to be one of many topics on both leaders’ lists during Xi’s visit. Putin said they'd discuss China’s proposal for a resolution of the conflict, which Beijing made less than a month ago.

The secretary of Ukraine's National Security and Defence Council has said that although China is unlikely to provide military support for Russia's war against Ukraine, if it does so Ukraine will recognise China as a party to the conflict on the side of Russia.

"If China does move to openly supply weapons to Russia, it will in effect be taking part in the conflict on the side of the aggressor," said Oleksiy Danilov.

Will Vernon
Reporting from Moscow

Russian media have been reporting on the contents of the menu for this evening’s banquet in the Kremlin, held in honour of President Xi by his “dear friend” Vladimir Putin.

The two presidents will be served a seven-course meal of mainly Russian food, including nelma (fish) from the Pechora River in northern Russia, a traditional Russian seafood soup and pancakes with quail, with Russian wine to accompany the food.

Putin and XI are currently speaking one-on-one in the Kremlin. At the start of the meeting, Putin said that Russia “has carefully studied [Chinese] proposals for resolving the acute crisis in Ukraine".

Tomorrow is the main day of the state visit, when the Russian and Chinese delegations will hold talks.

James Landale
Diplomatic correspondent

Last week Ukraine’s foreign minister, Dmytro Kuleba, spoke to his Chinese counterpart. Shortly after he told me he did not think the time had come when China was ready to arm Russia.

He said President Xi’s visit was about China showing the world that “Russia is not alone, that China is talking to them”.

But he also noted Russia had not got the full support from China that it wanted. So Ukraine is playing the long game in what Kuleba described as “a very complex” situation.

Ukraine knows that however and whenever this war ends, China may be a key player in helping to guarantee the peace and reconstruct Ukraine. So Kyiv is watching and waiting and keeping its diplomatic cards close to its chest.

European Union countries have agreed a €2bn plan to give one million artillery shells to Ukraine over the next year by using their own stockpiles and jointly purchasing more.

EU ministers met in Brussels today to support a proposal to spend €1bn on shells from stockpiles and €1bn more on joint procurement.

German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius said the "starting signal" had been given and promised Ukraine could count on getting a large amount of ammunition this year.

"This is a very strong step to protect European security," Ukrainian presidential administration's chief of staff Andriy Yermak said.

Ukraine said the supply of 155 mm shells was a critical need as both Russian and Ukrainian sides are firing thousands of artillery rounds every day, and additional supplies would help Ukraine launch a fresh counter-offensive this year.