Russia-Ukraine war – live: Prince William makes surprise trip to Poland base near border

Prince William has thanked British troops based roughly an hour’s drive from the Ukrainian border for “defending our freedoms” during a surprise trip to Poland.

The Prince of Wales told soldiers at an air defence military base in the south-eastern Polish city of Rzeszow that their work to keep “an eye on” the situation in Ukraine is “really important”.

Speaking to the soldiers, he said: “I just wanted to come here in person to say thank you for all that you’re doing, keeping everyone safe out here and keeping an eye on what’s going on.

“So, just a big thank you for what you do on a day-to-day basis.”

It comes after Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin looked to shaping a new world order as the Chinese president left Moscow on Wednesday, having made no direct support for the Russian president’s war in Ukraine during his three-day visit.

Mr Xi made a strong show of solidarity with Putin against the West, telling Mr Putin as he departed: “Now there are changes that haven’t happened in 100 years. When we are together, we drive these changes.”

Key points

• Prince William makes surprise trip to base near Kyiv border

• ‘Change is coming,’ Xi tells Putin on leaving Russia

• UK dismisses Putin ‘disinformation’ over depleted uranium tank ammunition

• Three killed in overnight Russian drone strikes on Kyiv

• Russia ‘may be losing grip on Bakhmut'

• ‘Signs’ Putin has requested lethal weapons from China, Nato chief says

China ‘very carefully’ West’s response to Russian invasion, says Blinken

22:00 , Emily Atkinson

China is “very carefully” watching how Washington and the world respond to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, but has not yet crossed the line of providing lethal aid to Moscow, US secretary of state Antony Blinken has said.

Speaking on the heels of a visit to Moscow by Chinese president Xi Jinping, Blinken told a Senate hearing that if Russia was allowed to attack its neighbor with impunity, it would “open a Pandora’s box” for would-be aggressors and lead to a “world of conflict.”

“The stakes in Ukraine go well beyond Ukraine. ... I think it has a profound impact in Asia, for example,” Blinken said, noting that Japan and South Korea had been major supporters of Ukraine in the conflict.

However, he said he did not believe that China has been providing lethal aid to Moscow.

“As we speak today, we have not seen them cross that line,” Blinken told a Senate Appropriations subcommittee hearing, the first of four times he will testify to congressional committees this week.

World Bank puts cost of rebuilding Ukraine at $411 billion

21:02 , Emily Atkinson

A World Bank report released on Wednesday puts the cost of Ukraine‘s recovery and rebuilding from Russia’s invasion at $411 billion over the next decade, with the cost of cleaning up the war rubble alone at $5 billion.

The report provides both sweeping and closely detailed looks at some of the toll of Russia’s war in Ukraine: at least 9,655 civilians confirmed dead, including 465 children; nearly 2 million homes damaged; more than one out of five public health institutions damaged; and 650 ambulances damaged or looted.

In all, the World Bank calculated $135 billion in direct damage to buildings and infrastructure so far, not counting broader economic damage.

The damage would be even worse if not for the strong defense mounted by the Ukrainian forces, Anna Bjerde, the World Bank vice president for Europe and Central Asia, noted in a call with reporters. She said the worst damage has been confined to the front-line regions of Donetsk, Kharkiv, Luhansk and Kherson.

As it is, the World Bank said, Russia’s invasion has undone 15 years of economic progress in Ukraine, cutting Ukraine‘s gross domestic product by 29 per cent and pushing 1.7 million Ukrainians into poverty.

Zelensky points to Xi’s Moscow visit as he hits out at Russian strikes

20:00 , Emily Atkinson

Volodymyr Zelensky made an apparent reference to Xi Jinping’s visit to Moscow while condeming the latest waves of Russian strikes on Ukraine.

Mr Zelensky tweeted: “Every time someone tries to hear the word ‘peace’ in Moscow, another order is given there for such criminal strikes.”

It came after Russia blasted an apartment block in Ukraine with missiles on Wednesday and swarmed cities with drone attacks overnight.

Russian air strikes on two Ukrainian cities kill seven, officials say

19:30 , Emily Atkinson

At least seven people were killed on Wednesday in Russian air strikes on Ukrainian cities which President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said showed Moscow was not interested in peace.

In a series of early-morning drone strikes, six people were killed and 18 taken to hospital when two dormitories and a college were hit in Rzhyshchiv, 40 miles (64 km) south of the capital Kyiv, regional police chief Andrii Nebytov said.

The attack left a gaping hole in the top floor of a five-storey dormitory and a pile of rubble marked where part of another building had stood, a Reuters witness said.

Hours later, two residential buildings were damaged in a missile strike on the southeastern city of Zaporizhzhia. One person was killed and 33 taken to hospital, officials said.

The Ukrainian military said it knocked out 16 of 21 Iranian-made Shahed drones fired by Russia.

More images from Prince William’s visit to Poland

19:00 , Emily Atkinson

Mary Dejevsky: Why the West should worry about the end to the Putin and Xi summit

18:30 , Emily Atkinson

This week’s Russia-China summit in Moscow was not unusual in itself, writes Mary Dejevsky. Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping have met many times more, and less, formally. They appear to have established an amicable and straight-talking relationship – their discussions were described by Putin at their closing press conference as “frank, open and friendly”.

Viewed through the longer lens of history, however, this visit may end up being seen as a unique, landmark, occasion: the point at which the global centre of gravity started seriously to shift from West to East.

Why the West should worry about the Putin and Xi summit | Mary Dejevsky

Russia says risk of a nuclear clash ‘is at its highest level in decades'

18:00 , Emily Atkinson

The risk of a nuclear clash is at its highest level in decades, Russian deputy foreign minister Sergei Ryabkov has said.

Strained relations between Russia and the United States have worsened since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine last year. In February, Moscow pulled out of the New START nuclear arms reduction treaty with Washington.

Speaking at an event entitled “A World Without START: What’s Next”, Ryabkov said there was “no question” of Russia restoring the treaty for now, criticising what he called Washington’s “hostile course” towards Moscow.

“I wouldn’t want to dive into a discussion about whether the likelihood of a nuclear conflict is high today, but it is higher than anything we have had for the past few decades, let’s put it that way,” the Interfax news agency quoted him as saying.

Ryabkov said Russia was committed to keeping the world “safe and free” from the threat of nuclear war, but added later that business could not continue as usual, given that Moscow was now “in a de facto state of open conflict with the United States”.

Prince William makes surprise trip to base near Kyiv border

17:36 , Emily Atkinson

Prince William has thanked British troops based roughly an hour’s drive from the Ukrainian border for “defending our freedoms” during a surprise trip to Poland.

The Prince of Wales told soldiers at an air defence military base in the south-eastern Polish city of Rzeszow that their work to keep “an eye on” the situation in Ukraine is “really important”.

After arriving at the base on Wednesday afternoon, the prince, dressed casually in a black puffer jacket and trousers, was shown a missile launcher.

William said the two-day trip will allow him to personally thank troops and pay tribute to the “inspiring humanity of the Polish people” aiding Ukrainian refugees.

Speaking to the soldiers, he said: “I just wanted to come here in person to say thank you for all that you’re doing, keeping everyone safe out here and keeping an eye on what’s going on.

“So, just a big thank you for what you do on a day-to-day basis.”

He added: “You’re doing a really important job out here and defending our freedoms is really important, and everyone back home thoroughly supports you.”

The base, made up of a coalition of British, Polish and US troops, is helping to aid support to Ukraine.

Watch: China's Xi Jinping tells Putin 'change is coming' as he departs Moscow

16:48 , Emily Atkinson

China ‘watching the world’s response to war in Ukraine'

15:37 , Katy Clifton

US secretary of state Antony Blinken has said that China is “very carefully” watching how Washington and the world respond to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the impact of which he said was being felt in Asia.

Speaking on the heels of a visit to Moscow by Chinese president Xi Jinping, Blinken said if Russia was allowed to attack its neighbour with impunity, it would “open a Pandora’s box” for would-be aggressors and lead to a “world of conflict.”

“The stakes in Ukraine go well beyond Ukraine ... I think it has a profound impact in Asia, for example,” Mr Blinken said, noting that Japan and South Korea had been major supporters of Ukraine in the conflict.

Russia’s invasion has led to debates over how the war will affect China’s military thinking regarding Taiwan, the self-governing island that Beijing sees as sovereign Chinese territory.

‘Seven killed in Russian strikes'

15:05 , Katy Clifton

At least seven people have been killed in Russian air strikes on Ukrainian cities today, officials have said.

In a series of early-morning drone strikes, six people were killed and 18 were taken to hospital when two dormitories and an educational facility were hit in Rzhyshchiv, 40 miles (64 km) south of Kyiv, according to regional police chief Andrii Nebytov.

The attack left a gaping hole in the top floor of a five-storey dormitory and a pile of rubble marked where part of another building had stood, a Reuters witness said.

Hours later, two residential buildings were damaged in a missile strike on the southeastern city of Zaporizhzhia. Local officials said one person was killed and 33 were taken to hospital.

Russia says risk of nuclear conflict at highest level in decades

14:51 , Katy Clifton

Russian deputy foreign minister Sergei Ryabkov said on Wednesday that the probability of a nuclear conflict was at its highest level in decades, Russian news agencies reported.

He also said there could be no talk of secret or open negotiations with Washington on restoring the New START nuclear arms reduction treaty, which Russia pulled out of in February.

‘Bestial’ Zaporizhzhia strike kills one, says Zelensky

14:30 , Liam James

Ukraine’s president posted a video showing what he said was a Russian missile slamming into an apartment building in the southeastern city of Zaporizhzhia, killing at least one person.

The video posted by Volodymyr Zelensky to Telegram appeared to be CCTV footage that captured the moment a missile hit the nine-storey residential block by a busy road.

Ukrainian media carried pictures showing charred apartments on several storeys of the affected buildings, and flames billowing from some of them. Two children were among the wounded, said Zaporizhzhia city council secretary Anatolii Kurtiev, adding that 25 needed hospital treatment, with three in a critical condition.

“Russia is shelling the city with bestial savagery,” Mr Zelensky wrote to accompany the video. “Residential areas where ordinary people and children live are being fired at.”

China calls for UN investigation into Nord Stream blast

14:00 , Liam James

China supports a United Nations led investigation into the Nord Stream blast, China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson said in a tweet on Wednesday.

The Nord Stream 1 and 2 pipelines built by Russia’s state-controlled Gazprom connecting Russia and Germany under the Baltic Sea were hit by a series of unexplained explosions last September.

Russia called for a UN-led investigation at a meeting of the UN Security Council last month, but Western members said Moscow was using the incident to distract from its invasion of Ukraine.

The Chinese foreign ministry’s announcement follows a series of closed door meetings between Chinese president Xi Jinping and Russian president Vladimir Putin in Moscow.

Putin’s claim UK is sending nuclear arms to Ukraine is ‘bonkers’ says expert

13:30 , Liam James

China’s peace plan could be the basis for settling the war in Ukraine, Vladimir Putin claimed on Tuesday as he accused Britain of using “nuclear” tank ammunition (Alastair Jamieson writes).

Speaking after marathon talks in Moscow with Xi Jinping, the Russian president accused the West of not being interested in a deal and said Britain plans to provide Kyiv with tank rounds containing depleted uranium.

“If that happens, Russia will respond accordingly, given that the collective West is starting to use weapons with a nuclear component,” he said.

However, the Ministry of Defence dismissed it as deliberate misinformation while a weapons expert called it “bonkers”.

Putin’s claim UK is sending nuclear arms to Ukraine is ‘bonkers’

Slovakia offered US helicopters for Ukraine aid

13:00 , Liam James

The United States has offered Slovakia 12 new military helicopters as compensation for the MiG-29 fighter jets the European country is giving to Ukraine, Slovakia’s defense minister said today.

Under the offer, Slovakia would pay $340m (£277m) for the Bell AH-1Z attack choppers in a deal worth about $1bn (£0.8bn) that also includes 500 AGM-114 Hellfire II missiles and training, Defence Minister Jaroslav Nad said.

U.S. foreign military financing would cover the other $660m, he said. The European Union also would send Slovakia €200m (£175m) in additional compensation, Mr Nad said.

The Slovak government still needs to accept the offer. Mr Nad said his country’s armed forces currently don’t have any combat helicopters and that the deal would “significantly increase the defense capability of Slovakia.”

Cost of rebuilding Ukraine shoots up to £335bn

12:30 , Liam James

Rebuilding Ukraine’s economy after Russia’s invasion more than a year ago is now expected to cost $411bn (£335bn), 2.6 times Ukraine’s expected 2022 gross domestic product, a new study by the World Bank, United Nations, European Commission and Ukraine found.

The estimate released Wednesday covers the period spanning one year from Russia’s invasion on 24 February 2022 and quantifies the direct physical damage to infrastructure and buildings, the impact on people’s lives and livelihoods and the cost to “build back better,” the World Bank said.

The amount is up sharply from an estimate of $349bn (£284bn) released last September, since when Ukraine has endured a brutal campaign of attacks by Russia on its energy infrastructure.

Zelensky on frontline in Bakhmut

11:50 , Liam James

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky visited Ukrainian troops near the frontline city of Bakhmut today and handed out medals, his office said.

“I am honoured to be here today to give awards to our heroes. To shake hands and thank them for protecting the sovereignty of our country,” Mr Zelensky wrote on the Telegram messaging app under video footage showing him handing out the awards.

Four killed in Kyiv drone strike

11:12 , Liam James

The death toll from a drone strike in Kyiv Oblast has been revised upwards to four.

A high school and two dormitories were partially destroyed in an overnight drone attack in the city of Rzhyshchiv, south of the Ukrainian capital, local officials said. It was not clear how many people were in the dormitories at the time.

The body of a 40-year-old man was pulled from the rubble on a dormitory’s fifth floor, according to regional police chief Andri Nebytov.

More than 20 people were hospitalised, Mr Nebytov said, and a few others were unaccounted for. Ukrainian air defenses downed 16 of the 21 drones launched by Russia, the Ukraine General Staff said.

Russia is only one talking about nuclear escalation, says UK

10:13 , Liam James

British foreign secretary James Cleverly said the UK was not seeking nuclear escalation in the Ukraine war, after Russia condemned London’s plan to supply Ukraine with ammunition containing depleted uranium.

The Ministry of Defence on Monday confirmed it was supplying Ukraine with that type of ammunition, which is used in weapons because it can penetrate tanks and armour more easily due to its density and other physical properties.

“There is no nuclear escalation. The only country in the world that is talking about nuclear issues is Russia. There is no threat to Russia, this is purely about helping Ukraine defend itself,” Mr Cleverly said.

‘Change is coming,’ Xi tells Putin on leaving Russia

08:53 , Liam James

China’s President Xi Jinping left Russia on Wednesday after a grandiose display of solidarity with President Vladimir Putin against the West, that ended with the two autocrats pledging to work together to shape a new world order.

During his two-day visit Mr Xi barely mentioned the Ukraine conflict and said on Tuesday in final remarks that China had an “impartial position”. There was no sign that Mr Xi‘s efforts to play the role of peacemaker had yielded results, but nor did he make any offer of direct support for Mr Putin‘s war in Ukraine.

Yet, as Mr Xi departed he told Mr Putin: “Now there are changes that haven’t happened in 100 years. When we are together, we drive these changes.”

“I agree,” Mr Putin said, to which Mr Xi responded: ”Take care of yourself dear friend, please.”

IMF signs off £12.7bn loan for Ukraine

08:35 , Liam James

Ukraine and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) have agreed on a $15.6bn (£12.7bn) loan package aimed at shoring up government finances severely strained by Russia’s invasion.

Ukraine’s finance ministry said the programme would “help to mobilise financing from Ukraine’s international partners, as well as to maintain macrofinancial stability and ensure the path to post-war reconstruction after Ukrainian victory in the war against the aggressor”.

The loan programme – which was also aimed at leveraging more support by reassuring allies that Ukraine was pursuing strong economic policies – would run for four years.

The first 12 to 18 months would focus on helping Ukraine close its budget deficit and alleviate pressure to finance spending through printing money at the central bank, the IMF said in a statement.

The remainder of the programme would focus on supporting Ukraine’s bid for European Union membership and post-war reconstruction.

Russia warns US against escalation after days of tension

07:31 , Liam James

Russia is urging the United States not to escalate the situation in Ukraine, deputy foreign minister Sergei Ryabkov said on Wednesday, the Interfax news agency reported.

The minister’s comments come after days of tension since an American drone was downed by a Russian jet.

Yesterday secretary of Russia‘s Security Council, Nikolai Patrushev, said the United States wanted to “defeat Russia“ and had become a participant in the conflict in Ukraine.

Earlier, a Pentagon official said the US plans to speed up the delivery of Abrams tanks to Ukraine, a Pentagon official said, providing the vital equipment to Kyiv as soon as this fall.

Russia also lashed out at Britain, warning of nuclear escalation after a defence minister in London revealed Challenger tanks being sent to Ukraine would be loaded with missiles tipped with depleted uranium.

Three killed in overnight Russian drone strikes on Kyiv region – officials

07:02 , Arpan Rai

At least three people were killed and another seven wounded in overnight Russian drone strikes on the Kyiv region, Ukrainian officials confirmed this morning.

A civilian object had been damaged and resecuers are still working at the scene of the military strike, the Kyiv regional military administration reported on its Telegram channel.

The Ukrainian military said it had shot down 16 out of 21 Iranian-made Shahed drones launched at Ukraine overnight by Russia.

Voices: Is Putin desperate enough to let Xi get his way over Ukraine?

07:00 , Emily Atkinson

Russia is losing badly in Ukraine, writes Timothy Ash. It has already suffered a colossal loss of manpower, military equipment and prestige for Putin. It has also caused a sizeable economic hit to the Russian economy as sanctions have pushed it into recession, forced a brain drain and capital flight and seen close to $400bn in its assets frozen in the West.

Is Putin desperate enough to let Xi get his way over Ukraine?

Russia may be losing grip on Bakhmut, says MoD

06:39 , Arpan Rai

There is a realistic likelihood that Russia’s assault on Bakhmut is losing the limited momentum it gained over winter and spring, the British defence ministry has said today.

“Over recent days Ukrainian forces initiated a local counterattack to the west of the Donetsk oblast town of Bakhmut, which is likely to relieve pressure on the threatened H-32 supply route,” the MoD pointed out in the latest intelligence update.

It added that fighting continues around the town centre and the Ukrainian defence forces remain at risk from envelopment from the north and south.

“However, there is a realistic possibility that the Russian assault on the town is losing the limited momentum it had obtained, partially because some Russian MoD units have been reallocated to other sectors,” the ministry said.

‘Signs’ Putin has requested lethal weapons from China, Nato chief says

06:29 , Arpan Rai

Nato general secretary Jens Stoltenberg has warned that China appears to be mulling arms supplies to Russia as Xi Jinping discussed Beijing’s peace plan for Ukraine with Vladimir Putin in Moscow.

“We haven’t seen any proof that China is delivering lethal weapons to Russia but we have seen some signs that this has been a request from Russia, and that this is an issue that is considered in Beijing by the Chinese authorities,” Mr Stoltenberg told reporters in Brussels.

He said China should not provide weapons that could be used in Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, as “that would be to support an illegal war.” He added that arms supplies would prolong the conflict.

Read the full sotry here:

‘Signs’ Putin has requested lethal weapons from China, Nato chief says

ICYMI | Vladimir Putin appears to be heckled during visit to Mariupol

06:00 , Emily Atkinson

Artillery attacks near Bakhmut doubled up as residents queue up for water and food

05:42 , Arpan Rai

The Russian attacks in and around Bakhmut have risen sharply in the past 24 hours as Ukrainian officials gave the latest details from the fiercest battle along the frontline.

Bursts of incoming and outgoing artillery fire could be heard in the town of Chasiv Yar just west of Bakhmut where intense fighting has been observed in the last few months.

The fiercest fighting continued to take place near Bakhmut and Avdiivka to the south, said the general staff of the Ukrainian armed forces.

Ukrainian military analyst Oleh Zhdanov said: “Today the number of Russian attacks rose sharply. There were some 120 along the principal parts of the front line, about double the number from the day before.”

With fighting taking place in largely residential neighbourhoods, elderly residents queued for water and food delivered by a team from the state emergency services between apartment blocks in Chasiv Yar.

One of the residents, Oleksii Stepanov, said he had been in Bakhmut until five days ago but was evacuated when his house was destroyed by a missile.

“We were in the kitchen and the missile came through the roof. The kitchen was all that was left standing,” the 54-year-old said.

Putin does not have whole lot of friends on international stage, says White House

05:11 , Arpan Rai

The White House has said that Vladimir Putin really needs and wants his Chinese counterpart’s support as he does not have a lot of international allies.

“In president Xi, president Putin sees a potential backer here. This is a man who doesn’t have a whole lot of friends on the international stage; they can count them on one hand mostly. And he really needs and wants president Xi’s support for what he’s trying to do, because he’s running through — he’s blowing through inventory,” the White House national security spokesperson John Kirby said.

He added: “He’s [Putin] blowing through manpower. His military is getting embarrassed constantly. They’ve lost greater than 50 per cent of the territory that they took in the first few months of this war. He needs help from president Xi, and that’s what this visit was all about.”

Mr Kirby was answering a question on whether the world is “watching a budding alliance between China and Russia” after the bilateral meet in Moscow.

“I wouldn’t go so far to call it an alliance. Yesterday I called it a ‘marriage of convenience’, because that’s what I think it is. In president Putin and Russia, president Xi sees a counterweight to American influence and Nato influence certainly on the continent and elsewhere around the world,” he said.

US announces sanctions on Iran drone procurement network

05:00 , Emily Atkinson

The United States said Tuesday it is imposing a new round of sanctions on Iranian firms and people accused of procuring equipment used for Iranian drones.

Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control coordinated with the FBI to designate four firms and three people in Iran and Turkey for allegedly buying equipment, including European-made engines, to be used for Iran’s drone and weapons programs.

The Associated Press has more on this story here:

US announces sanctions on Iran drone procurement network

China is not impartial on Ukraine invasion, says US

04:03 , Arpan Rai

White House national security spokesperson John Kirby has said that the US does not view China as an impartial player in the continuing war on Ukraine as claimed in the joint statement issued by Moscow and Beijing.

On being asked about the statement which stated that “the Russian side speaks positively of China’s objective and impartial position on the Ukraine issue” and whether China has an impartial position, Mr Kirby answered in a firm no.

“...I don’t think you can reasonably look at China as impartial in any way. They haven’t condemned this in — this invasion. They haven’t stopped buying Russian oil and Russian energy,” he said.

He added: “President Xi saw fit to fly all the way to Moscow, hasn’t talked once to President Zelensky, hasn’t visited Ukraine, hasn’t bothered to avail himself of the Ukrainian objective. And he and his regime keeps parroting the Russian propaganda that this is somehow a war of the West on Russia, that it’s some sort of existential threat to Mr Putin. That’s just a bunch of malarkey. Ukraine posed no threat to anybody, let alone Russia.”

Dramatic moment Russian fighter jet ‘intercepts two US nuclear bombers over Baltic Sea’

04:00 , Emily Atkinson

Russia has claimed it scrambled one of its fighter jets to intercept a pair of US nuclear bombers over the Baltic Sea.

The Russian Defence Ministry released the footage on Tuesday, which it claimed was captured from a Russian Su-45 on Monday.

It said its fighter jet met B-52 strategic bombers flying towards the Russian border on Monday, but that it returned to base after they moved away.

Kate Plummer has the details:

Moment Russian fighter jet ‘intercepts two US nuclear bombers over Baltic Sea’

UK dismisses Putin ‘disinformation’ over depleted uranium tank ammunition

03:56 , Arpan Rai

Britain has accused Vladimir Putin of stirring deliberate disinformation after he claimed the UK was supplying Ukraine with “weapons with a nuclear component”.

Following talks in Moscow with China’s president Xi Jinping, Mr Putin said Russia will “respond accordingly” if Britain sends depleted uranium tank ammunition to the government in Kyiv.

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) however dismissed the warning, saying the armour-piercing shells had been standard equipment for decades and were “nothing to do with nuclear weapons or capabilities”.

Read the full story here:

UK dismisses Putin ‘disinformation’ over depleted uranium tank ammunition

China should urge end of Ukraine invasion to be constructive, says White House

03:37 , Arpan Rai

Chinese president Xi Jinping should urge Russia to end its invasion of Ukraine if Beijing wants to play a constructive role for the European nation under siege for more than a year, the White House said.

Suggesting that one way to stop the hostilities in Ukraine is to pull Russian troops out of thewar-hit nation, the White House national security spokesperson said that “short of that, Mr Putin could stop bombing hospitals, could stop bombing schools.”

“He could stop launching Iranian drones into civilian infrastructure. He could stop the forcible deportation of young kids — thousands of them — putting them in filtration camps inside other places inside Ukraine but also inside Russia. He could stop reducing cities like Bakhmut to bricks — to piles of bricks. That is a way to stop the prolongation of hostilities,” Mr Kirby said. He added: “So, now, if China wants to play a constructive role here in this conflict, then they ought to press Russia to pull its troops out of Ukraine and Ukrainian sovereign territory. They should urge president Putin to cease bombing cities, hospitals, and schools; to stop the war crimes and the atrocities; and end the war today. It could happen right now.”

The White House official was speaking about the diplomatic meeting between the Chinese and Russian president in Moscow where the two emerged from two days of talks with warm words of friendship between China and Russia and joint criticism of the West.

However, there was no sign of a diplomatic breakthrough over Ukraine.

Ukraine marks one-year anniversary of first win in Russian invasion, says Zelensky

03:14 , Arpan Rai

Volodymyr Zelensky cheered on the one year anniversary of Ukraine’s first battle victory in Kyiv.

“Ukraine began to mark the first anniversary of the first victorious battles of the full-scale war - the battles in the north of our country that made the occupier flee,” Mr Zelensky said last night.

He added: “It was on 21 March last year that the Battle of Moshchun, a small village in the Kyiv region, ended, and it was the first major step of our country towards victory in this war.”

“There were other such steps... The Battle of Hostomel. The Battle of Irpin. Fighting in the Chernihiv and Sumy regions. The Battle of Zmiinyi. A fierce confrontation in the south of Ukraine and our unique defence operation that returned freedom to the Kharkiv region,” Mr Zelensky said.

Watch: Putin hails China’s Xi plan to settle ‘acute crisis’ in Ukraine

03:00 , Emily Atkinson

‘Signs’ Putin has requested lethal weapons from China, Nato chief says

02:00 , Emily Atkinson

China appears to be mulling arms supplies to Russia, Nato general secretary Jens Stoltenberg warned as Xi Jinping discussed Beijing’s peace plan for Ukraine with Vladimir Putin in Moscow.

“We haven’t seen any proof that China is delivering lethal weapons to Russia but we have seen some signs that this has been a request from Russia, and that this is an issue that is considered in Beijing by the Chinese authorities,” Mr Stoltenberg told reporters in Brussels.

He said China should not provide weapons that could be used in Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, as “that would be to support an illegal war.” He added that arms supplies would prolong the conflict.

Liam James reports:

‘Signs’ Putin has requested lethal weapons from China, Nato chief says

Latest images from Kishida’s visit to Kyiv

01:00 , Emily Atkinson

Watch: Putin hits out at British plans to supply Ukraine with weapons containing nuclear components

00:00 , Emily Atkinson

Russia targets Nobel Peace Prize rights group with raids

Tuesday 21 March 2023 23:00 , Emily Atkinson

Russian authorities on Tuesday raided the homes and offices of multiple human rights advocates and historians with the prominent rights group Memorial that won the Nobel Peace Prize last year.

The wave of searches, after which police took Memorial activists in for questioning, is part of a steady and sweeping crackdown that the Kremlin has unleashed against dissent in recent years. It has intensified after Moscow invaded Ukraine more than a year ago.

Russia targets Nobel Peace Prize rights group with raids

UK dismisses Putin ‘disinformation’ over depleted uranium tank ammunition

Tuesday 21 March 2023 22:00 , Emily Atkinson

Britain has accused President Vladimir Putin of deliberate disinformation after he claimed the UK was supplying Ukraine with “weapons with a nuclear component”.

Following talks in Moscow with China’s President Xi Jinping, Mr Putin said Russia will “respond accordingly” if Britain sends depleted uranium tank ammunition to the government in Kyiv.

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) however dismissed the warning, saying the armour-piercing shells had been standard equipment for decades and were “nothing to do with nuclear weapons or capabilities”

We have more on the MoD’s response here:

UK dismisses Putin ‘disinformation’ over depleted uranium tank ammunition

Putin’s claim Britain is sending nuclear arms to Ukraine is ‘bonkers’, says expert

Tuesday 21 March 2023 21:30 , Emily Atkinson

China’s peace plan could be the basis for settling the war in Ukraine, Vladimir Putin claimed on Tuesday as he accused Britain of using “nuclear” tank ammunition.

Speaking after marathon talks in Moscow with Xi Jinping, the Russian president accused the West of not being interested in a deal.

“It looks like the West indeed intends to fight Russia until the last Ukrainian,” he said.

Alastair Jamieson has more:

Putin’s claim Britain is sending nuclear arms to Ukraine is ‘bonkers’ – expert

IMF 'reaches staff agreement with Ukraine over financial package’

Tuesday 21 March 2023 21:10 , Emily Atkinson

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has reached a staff agreement with Ukraine for a four-year financing package worth about $15.6 billion, sources familiar with the agreement have told Reuters.

The agreement follows months of negotiations between IMF staff officials and Ukrainian authorities.

What Russia-China joint statement says about Ukraine

Tuesday 21 March 2023 21:00 , Emily Atkinson

Russia and China issued a joint statement on Thursday following talks between presidents Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping. Here is the section of the statement that relates to the war in Ukraine.

Translation by Reuters:

The Russian side positively assesses the objective and unbiased position of the Chinese side on the Ukrainian question. The parties are opposed to any states and their blocs damaging the legitimate security interests of other states in order to obtain military, political and other advantages. The Chinese side positively assesses the willingness of the Russian side to make efforts to restart peace talks as soon as possible.

Russia welcomes China’s readiness to play a positive role in a political-diplomatic settlement of the Ukrainian crisis and the constructive ideas set forth in the document drawn up by the Chinese side “On China’s Position on the Political Settlement of the Ukrainian Crisis.”

The parties note that in order to resolve the Ukrainian crisis, it is necessary to respect the legitimate concerns of all countries in the field of security and prevent the formation of bloc confrontation, and halt actions that further fuel the conflict.

The parties stress that responsible dialogue is the best way for a sustainable resolution of the Ukrainian crisis, and the international community should support constructive efforts in this regard.

The parties call for an end to all steps that contribute to the escalation of tension and prolongation of hostilities, to avoid further degradation of the crisis to the point where it could cross over into an uncontrollable phase. The parties oppose all unilateral sanctions imposed in circumvention of the UN Security Council.

Kim Sengupta: No country can afford to ignore the war in Ukraine – visits by China and Japan to Moscow and Kyiv prove that

Tuesday 21 March 2023 20:30 , Emily Atkinson

While Vladimir Putin was meeting his “dear friend” Xi Jinping in Moscow, the Japanese prime minister, Fumio Kishida, was 500 miles away in Kyiv showing his country’s solidarity with Ukraine.

The presence of the two Asian leaders in the rival capitals illustrated the global impact of this conflict in the heart of Europe, with old strategic alliances being strengthened and new ones being formed, writes Kim Sengupta.

Analysis: It is becoming clear that no country can ignore the war in Ukraine

Zelensky: Kyiv waiting on response from Beijing over Ukraine’s peace formula

Tuesday 21 March 2023 19:50 , Emily Atkinson

Ukraine‘s President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Tuesday that Kyiv had suggested to China that Beijing join a Ukrainian peace formula to end Russia’s war in Ukraine, but that it was still waiting for an answer.

He made the remark during a joint briefing in Kyiv with Japanese prime minister Fumio Kishida.

Beijing has proposed a 12-point peace proposal, but Kyiv insists on a full Russian troop withdrawal and has been promoting its own plan in recent months.

I brought two Ukrainian refugees to the US. One month later, this is what they think

Tuesday 21 March 2023 19:25 , Emily Atkinson

After Clare Cannon made the decision to sponsor Katya and Dima to settle in New York, she knew she’d be responsible for helping them overcome their culture shock. Here, she documents one month of ups and downs in the US — and what actually happens to Ukrainian refugees once they arrive on American soil.

I brought two Ukrainian refugees to the US. One month later, this is what they think

Zelensky says he will join G7 summit virtually

Tuesday 21 March 2023 19:00 , Emily Atkinson

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky has aaid he would join an upcoming G7 summit in Japan via an online link following an invitation from Japanese prime minister Fumio Kishida.

He made the remark during a joint briefing in Kyiv with Kishida.

Japan is due to host the summit in Kishida’s hometown of Hiroshima in May.

Latest images from Putin and Xi’s Kremlin talks

Tuesday 21 March 2023 18:35 , Emily Atkinson

Putin blasts UK move to send ammo with depleted uranium to Ukraine

Tuesday 21 March 2023 18:10 , Emily Atkinson

Russian President Vladimir Putin has joined his defence minister in condemning British plans to send tank ammunition that contains depleted uranium to Ukraine.

“If all this happens, Russian will have to respond accordingly, given that the West collectively is already beginning to use weapons with a nuclear component,” Putin said in remarks after a summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping, without elaborating.

Nato to hold Ukraine meeting despite Hungary’s objections

Tuesday 21 March 2023 17:45 , Emily Atkinson

Nato secretary-general Jens Stoltenberg has said he would call a high-level meeting of the military organisation’s main forum for cooperation with Ukraine next month despite objections from Hungary.

The Nato-Ukraine Commission hasn’t met at a ministerial level for several years. The last meeting was held at a lower level in 2019 in Kyiv, with Nato ambassadors joining Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy and some of his Cabinet ministers, about three years before Russia’s full-scale invasion.

More on this story from the AP here:

NATO to hold Ukraine meeting despite Hungary's objections

China has peace plan for Ukraine when West is ready, says Putin

Tuesday 21 March 2023 17:20 , Emily Atkinson

A Chinese peace plan could provide a basis for a settlement of the fighting in Ukraine, when the West is ready for it, Russian president Vladimir Putin has said.

Speaking after talks with Chinese leader Xi Jinping, Mr Putin said Ukraine‘s western allies so far have shown no interest in that.

Putin welcomes ‘dear friend’ Xi for hours of talks at Kremlin

Tuesday 21 March 2023 16:57 , Emily Atkinson

Vladimir Putin held more than four hours of talks with “dear friend” Xi Jinping of China at the Kremlin on Monday, showing off his relationship with his most powerful ally just days after an arrest warrant was issued over his war in Ukraine.

More from Alastair Jamieson here:

Putin flaunts alliance with Xi as ‘dear friends’ meet in Kremlin

Russian defence minister warns of possible ‘nuclear collision’ with West

Tuesday 21 March 2023 16:25 , Emily Atkinson

Russian defence minister Sergei Shoigu said there were fewer and fewer steps left before a potential “nuclear collision” between Russia and the West, Interfax news agency reported.

Shoigu was responding to media reports that Britain would supply Ukraine with ammunition containing depleted uranium, a move to which he said Moscow would respond, Interfax reported.

Xi and Putin stress ‘responsible dialogue’ as solution to Ukraine crisis

Tuesday 21 March 2023 16:10 , Emily Atkinson

Chinese President Xi Jinping and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin on Tuesday stressed that “responsible dialogue” is the best way to steadily solve the Ukraine crisis, China’s state media reported.

The Russian side reaffirmed its commitment to resuming peace talks as soon as possible, according to Chinese state media, following the conclusion of talks between Xi and Putin in Moscow.

The two sides pointed out that to resolve the Ukraine crisis, the “legitimate security concerns” of all countries must be respected and that confrontation between camps should be avoided, Chinese state media reported.

Russia wants Chinese business to replace Western firms, Putin tells Xi

Tuesday 21 March 2023 15:27 , Emily Atkinson

Moscow is ready to help Chinese businesses replace Western firms that have left Russia over the Ukraine conflict, president Vladimir Putin told Chinese leader Xi Jinping on Tuesday during talks at the Kremlin.

Speaking on the second day of Xi’s state visit to Moscow, Putin also said the two leaders had discussed the proposed Power of Siberia 2 pipeline, which would ship Russian gas to China.

The planned pipeline would deliver 50 billion cubic metres (bcm) of natural gas per year from Russia to China via Mongolia. Moscow put forward the idea many years ago, but it has gained urgency as Russia turns to China to replace Europe as its major gas customer.

“I am convinced that our multi-faceted cooperation will continue to develop for the good of the peoples of our countries,” Putin said in televised comments to Xi, adding that Russia is a “strategic supplier” of oil, gas and coal to China.

Xi tells Putin: China and Russia should push for more ‘practical’ cooperation

Tuesday 21 March 2023 15:02 , Emily Atkinson

China and Russia should work more closely to push forward greater “practical cooperation”, Chinese president Xi Jinping told his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin on Tuesday.

“The early harvest of (our) cooperation can be seen, and further cooperation is being advanced,” Xi told Putin in formal talks in Moscow, according to Hong Kong cable television.

Nato warns China against supplying lethal weapons to Russia

Tuesday 21 March 2023 14:41 , Emily Atkinson

Nato secretary-general Jens Stoltenberg has warned China against supplying lethal weapons to Russia, as leaders of both countries were meeting in Moscow for talks.

“We haven’t seen any proof that China is delivering lethal weapons to Russia but we have seen some signs that this has been a request from Russia, and that this is an issue that is considered in Beijing by the Chinese authorities,” Stoltenberg told reporters in Brussels.

“China should not provide lethal aid to Russia, that would be to support an illegal war.”

Ukraine to receive Abrams tanks from US 'as soon as this fall’

Tuesday 21 March 2023 14:22 , Emily Atkinson

The Pentagon plans to speed up the delivery of Abrams tanks to Ukraine, a US official and a source familiar with the situation told Reuters, providing the vital equipment to Kyiv as soon as this fall.

The Biden administration pledged to supply Ukraine with 31 advanced M1 Abrams tanks after months of shunning the idea of deploying the difficult-to-maintain tanks to Ukraine. The new plan speeds up delivery by about a year, according to a Congressional aide briefed on the matter.

A Pentagon spokesman declined to comment on the faster timeline because the department of defence had not previously offered any specific date for its effort to get the tanks into Ukrainian hands, only saying it would take “months.”

“We’re working on that,” White House spokesperson John Kirby told CNN on Tuesday. “There’s some changes that you can make to the process to sort of speed that up.”

China and Russia should promote economic and trade cooperation, says Xi

Tuesday 21 March 2023 14:00 , Emily Atkinson

China’s President Xi Jinping told Russian prime minister Mikhail Mishustin both nations should promote the quality and volume of economic and trade cooperation, the official CCTV reported on Tuesday.

Xi arrived in Moscow on Monday for a state visit, in his first trip abroad since he secured an unprecedented third term earlier this month.