An American newspaper said that Chinese President Xi Jinping intends to hold video talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky for the first time since the outbreak of the war in Ukraine, following Xi's upcoming visit to Russia, which he may hold next week, according to Western sources.

These Chinese moves come at a time when fierce battles are taking place in eastern Ukraine, where Russian forces are seeking to extend their control over the strategic city of Bakhmut, after they seized large parts of the eastern part of the city.

Today, Monday, The Wall Street Journal quoted well-informed sources as saying that the Chinese president intends to hold a virtual meeting (remotely) with his Ukrainian counterpart, and it was likely that it would take place after the Chinese president's visit to Moscow.

At the same time, Reuters news agency quoted well-informed sources as saying that the Chinese president will travel to Russia soon, possibly next week.

The Kremlin declined to comment on this news, and the Chinese Foreign Ministry did not respond to a Reuters request for comment.


If Xi visits Russia next week, it will be sooner than previously expected.

And it will come days after the announcement of Xi assuming the presidency of China for a third term.

China is openly neutral about the war, and has refrained from holding any party responsible, but it has opposed Western sanctions imposed on Russia.

In the past few weeks, Beijing has offered to broker peace, a proposal met with skepticism in the West.

The United States has said since last month that it believes China is considering arming Russia, which Beijing denies.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said doing so would be tantamount to inviting World War Three.

Bakhmut battles

On the ground, the Ukrainian army said that fierce battles are currently taking place to control the center of the city of Bakhmut, in the east of the country.

The commander of the Ukrainian Ground Forces, Oleksandr Sersky, explained that the situation around Bakhmut is still difficult, stressing that the offensive units of the Russian Wagner Group are advancing from several directions, in an attempt to penetrate the Ukrainian defenses and advance to the downtown neighborhoods.

And the Ukrainian ground forces published pictures showing General Sersky inspecting his forces on the eastern front, and said in a statement that it was working to force the Russian forces to abandon the attack by incurring heavy losses.


Meanwhile, the Russian Ministry of Defense announced the downing of 16 Ukrainian drones and the interception of 12 American Himars missiles.

Yesterday, Sunday, the head of the private Russian Wagner Group, Yevgeny Prigozhin, said that the situation in Bakhmut is very difficult, despite the advance of his forces.

"The closer we get to the city center, the more difficult it will be to fight," he said in comments published by his media office. "The Ukrainians are pushing with endless precautions. But we are advancing and we will advance."

Prigozhin also mentioned that Russian soldiers supply his fighters with trucks loaded with ammunition, and he had previously complained that senior Russian commanders deliberately withheld ammunition from his men, a claim denied by the Russian Defense Ministry.

The Battle of Bakhmut is the longest battle since the start of the Russian war in Ukraine on February 24, 2022, and it has acquired a symbolic character for both Kiev and Moscow.

Russia is keen to achieve victory there after a number of setbacks.