RUSSIA'S Vladimir Putin will meet with China's Xi Jinping today, as the desperate dictator seeks to form ever-closer bonds with the Asian superpower.
The Chinese president arrived on Monday morning for a round of negotiations with Putin, set to take place at 4:30pm Moscow time, with the Russian leader desperate for aid in his bloodthirsty invasion of Ukraine.
Despite Putin's desperation, China has been careful to avoid voicing outright support for Putin's war, but the closening ties between the two nations have sparked fear among Western leaders.
Sky News' international editor, Dominic Waghorn, said: "That is not to say China has nothing to gain from this war, quite the opposite. It now has Russia over a barrel quite literally. Unable to sell oil and gas elsewhere Russia is doing so to China on Beijing's terms, a guaranteed source of cheap energy."
This comes as the British Ministry of Defence revealed Russia lost a staggering "30,000 troops" in its attempts to take the Ukrainian city of Bakhmut.
Read our Ukraine war blog below for the latest news…
- Henry Moore
‘Secret document’ showing Russia’s plan to destabilise Moldova uncovered
A “secret document” outlining Russia’s ten-year plan to destabilise Moldova has reportedly been uncovered.
The document, shared by CNN, outlines the Kremlin’s plan to make Moldova reliant on imports of Russian gas and to “stir up social conflict.”
Aims of the secret Kremlin plan include “support for Moldovan political forces advocating constructive relations with the Russian Federation,” and “neutralization of the initiatives of the Republic of Moldova aimed at eliminating the Russian military presence in Transnistria,” CNN reported.
When questioned about the document, Kremlin mouthpiece Dmitry Peskov said: “We know nothing of the existence of such a plan. I do not rule out that this is another fake.
“Russia has always been and remains open to building good-neighbourly, mutually beneficial relations, including with Moldova.”
He added: “We are very sorry that the current leadership of Moldova is experiencing completely unjustified and unfounded prejudices against Moscow.”
- Henry Moore
Putin branded 'pathetic' following Mariupol visit
A Ukrainian advisor has branded Putin "pathetic" following his night-time visit to the occupied city of Mariupol.
Taking to Twitter, Anton Gerashchenko wrote: "War criminal Putin visited Crimea and Mariupol for the first time since the full-scale invasion began.
"This visit looks hasty and unplanned.
"It seems like a pathetic response to the decision of the International Criminal Court.
"Putin looks lost, uncertain, and weak."
- Henry Moore
More pictures of Putin's visit to Mariupol revealed
- Henry Moore
Ukrainian residents slam Putin's visit to Mariupol
Ukrainian civilians are unimpressed by Putin's visit to the occupied city of Mariupol, with one person branding it nothing more than "PR."
One 25-year-old civilian told CNN: "It only makes us angry. My reaction is as negative as possible."
"I think it's just PR," he said.
"PR to show that they stand in some kind of position, but in fact, they are nobody, and they are weak. We will win. Victory will definitely be ours."
- Henry Moore
What is a war crime?
A war crime is committed when combatants violate the laws of war as defined by international treaties or customary law.
Acts such as killing civilians, killing prisoners of war, torture, taking hostages, committing genocide and ethnic cleansing are considered war crimes.
They are often unwarranted acts of violence or brutality and violate the rules of military conflicts.
The International Criminal Court (ICC) investigates breaches of The Rome Statute and tries people who are charged with the most substantial crimes of concern to international communities.
- Henry Moore
Xi Jinping 'confident' his mission will be fruitful
Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in Moscow on Monday and said his visit to Russia can provide "new momentum" to bilateral ties.
"I am confident the visit will be fruitful and give new momentum to the healthy and stable development of Chinese-Russian relations," he told journalists, including from Russian state media.
The meeting, which will include a round of negotiations between the two leaders, has raised tensions between China and Ukraine's western allies.
- Henry Moore
Inside the UK-led training programme for Ukrainian recruits
Known as Operation Interflex, the UK-led training programme for Ukrainian recruits provides them with battlefield skills, enabling them to defend their homeland against Russian aggression.
The training is for new volunteer recruits who have joined the Armed Forces of Ukraine with little to no previous military experience to teach them the skills required to survive and be effective in frontline combat.
Since the start of the training programme back in June 2022, over 10,000 recruits have taken part in training – which has been extended with an aim of training up to 20,000 in 2023.
- Henry Moore
Ukraine repels 69 missiles in 24 hours
Ukraine has reportedly repelled 69 Russian missiles in the last 24 hours.
The general staff of the Ukrainian armed forces confirmed Russia had launched assaults on Lyman, Bakhmut, Avdiivka, Mariinka, and Shakhtarsk in the Donetsk other the last day.
Fighting continues to rage in Bakhmut.
- Henry Moore
Russian losses pass 165,000 as fighting rages on
Russian losses have reportedly soared past 165,000 as Putin continues his brutal invasion of Ukraine.
According to Ukraine’s military, Russia has suffered 700 casualties in the last 24 hours, bringing total losses to 165,610.
This comes amid a report by the British Ministry of Defence claiming Russia has lost up to 30,000 soldiers in its attempts to take Bakhmut.
- Henry Moore
Russia’s spring offensive has ‘failed’, claims think tank
Russia’s spring offensive has hit a wall before reaching full steam, a military think tank has claimed.
Putin’s attempt to give his army an advantage by recruiting 300,000 extra troops has had little impact, the Institute for the Study of War reports.
“If 300,000 Russian soldiers have been unable to give Russia a decisive offensive edge in Ukraine it is highly unlikely that the commitment of additional forces in future mobilization waves will produce a dramatically different outcome this year,” said the think tank.
Russia has only made incremental gains across the frontline in recent months, with Ukraine’s defensive position holding strong.
- Henry Moore
Russian forces making slow progress in Donetsk
According to the British Ministry of Defence, Russia is making slow progress in the Donetsk region, despite Ukraine’s best efforts to repel Putin’s forces.
The MoD statement read: “Over the past three weeks, Russian forces have made creeping gains around the Ukrainian-held Donbas town of Avdiivka, immediately north of Donetsk city.
“The Russian operation has largely been carried out by the 1st Army Corps of the Donetsk People’s Republic; local personnel who will know the terrain well. Avdiivka has been on the front line of the Donbas conflict since 2014; the city is now largely destroyed.
“The sprawling Avdiivka Coke Plant complex is likely to be seen as particularly defendable key terrain as the battle progresses.
“Tactically, the situation is similar to that in the larger town of Bakhmut, further north. Ukrainian forces continue organised defence, but their supply lines to the west are increasingly threatened by the Russian envelopment operation.”
- Henry Moore
Justice ministers to meet in London today to boost support for ICC Putin arrest
Justice ministers from across the globe will meet in London today, as they look to boost support for the International Criminal Court.
This comes after the ICC published an arrest warrant for Russia’s Vladimir Putin, branding him a war criminal.
“We are gathering in London today united by one cause: to hold war criminals to account for the atrocities committed in Ukraine during this unjust, unprovoked and unlawful invasion,” British deputy prime minister Dominic Raab said.
- Henry Moore
Kremlin dismisses aircraft support for Ukraine
A Putin lackey has laughed off the decisions by Poland and Slovakia to send fighter jets to Ukraine.
“It seems that these countries are thus engaged in the disposal of old unnecessary equipment,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Friday, reports CNN.
The Kremlin mouthpiece reportedly claimed this is “yet another example” of NATO members “increasing their level of direct involvement in the conflict.”
Both Poland and Ukraine have agreed to send MiG-29 fighter jets to aid in Ukraine’s fight for freedom.
- Henry Moore
Why did Russia annex Crimea?
Nine years ago, Russia invaded and then annexed Crimea.
Vladimir Putin said that the troops were sent there to ensure proper conditions for the nationals to freely express their will, however, the annexation was met with international outcry over the violation of Ukraine’s sovereignty.
The 2014 conflict escalated after Ukraine’s pro-Russian president Viktor Yanukovych was driven from power by violent protests.
Russia and Ukraine had been contesting for Crimea for centuries and it remained part of Russia until 1954 when Sovier leader Nikita Khrushchev transferred it back to Ukraine.
Ever since 2014, tensions between Russia and Ukraine increased.
- Henry Moore
China and Russia are ‘good neighbours and reliable partners’
China’s President reportedly declared China and Russia are “good neighbours” upon his arrival in Moscow this morning.
Russian state media reported: “China and Russia are good neighbours and reliable partners, Xi Jinping said upon his arrival in Moscow on a state visit.
“He noted that China is ready, together with Russia, to guard the world order based on international law.
“The Chinese President expects that the visit to Russia will give a new impetus to the development of Russian-Chinese relations and strategic cooperation.”
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