Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping are scheduled to discuss energy cooperation, including the proposed Power of Siberia 2 natural gas pipeline, during Xi's visit to Moscow, a Kremlin aide confirmed Tuesday.

The talks are set to occur during Xi's four-day trip, where he will join other world leaders commemorating the 80th anniversary of Nazi Germany's defeat in World War II.

Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov told reporters that energy cooperation is a key focus, acknowledging Russia's position as China's leading oil and gas supplier. 

He explicitly confirmed the Power of Siberia 2 pipeline would be on the agenda for negotiations, despite the previous stalled talks. 

Designed with an annual capacity of up to 50 billion cubic meters, similar to the now-idle Nord Stream 1 pipeline that previously supplied gas to Germany, the planned 2,600-kilometer pipeline has gained prominence as Russia seeks to redirect gas exports away from Europe and toward China. 

The discussions unfold as the European Union continues its push to end reliance on Russian energy. 

Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the EU has outlined its REPowerEU plan to achieve complete energy independence from Moscow, proposing a phased exit from Russian oil, gas, and nuclear energy imports.  

The bloc aims to cut Russian gas imports by one-third by the end of this year and cease them entirely by the end of 2027, including halting new contracts and ending existing spot deals by late 2025. 

Additionally, the European Commission is working on measures against Russia’s “shadow fleet” involved in oil transport as part of its strategy to reduce energy dependency.