"Dear friend, welcome to Russia, to Moscow," President Vladimir Putin said to China's leader, Xi Jinping, on the first day of Xi's state visit. China has tried to cast the visit as a "trip for peace," but the two leaders have made only cursory public mention of Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
On Tuesday, they will join delegations from their respective countries for talks, according to Russian officials. They are then expected to address the media before a state dinner.
Follow our updates on the war in Ukraine.
An explosion hit the town of Dzhankoi in Russian-occupied Crimea on Monday, with Ukraine's Defense Ministry saying that the blast destroyed Russian Kalibr cruise missiles that were being transported by rail.
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida of Japan is making an unannounced visit to Ukraine to meet with President Volodymyr Zelensky, becoming the latest leader of the G7 nations to go to the country as he seeks a more active role for Japan in international affairs.