Russia has requested economic and military help from China. Multiple media outlets are reporting that US officials have said Moscow has asked Beijing for help in evading economic sanctions and for military assistance, including the use of drones.
The nature of China's response to Russia is currently unknown and China's embassy in Washington has told reporters that it has not heard about such a request. However, sources indicate that the Chinese have responded.
The development comes as the US and China are sending top aides to Rome for discussions. Speaking in advance of the talks, White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan bluntly warned China to avoid helping Russia evade punishment from global sanctions that have hammered the Russian economy.
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has put China in a delicate spot with two of its biggest trading partners: the US and European Union. China needs access to these markets, yet it has also made gestures supportive of Moscow, joining with Russia in declaring a friendship with “no limits”.
In his talks with senior Chinese foreign policy adviser Yang Jiechi, Mr Sullivan will be looking for limits in what Beijing will do for Moscow. He told CNN that "there absolutely will be consequences" if China helps Russia "backfill" its losses from the sanctions.
“We will not allow that to go forward and allow there to be a lifeline to Russia from these economic sanctions from any country anywhere in the world,” he said.
Russia warned over air strikes outside of Ukraine
White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan said the West would respond if Russia’s strikes travel outside Ukraine and hit any Nato members, even accidentally. More than 30 Russian cruise missiles targeted a military base in Yavoriv on Sunday, which is less than 15 miles from the Polish border and appears to be the westernmost target struck during Russia’s 18-day invasion.
It has hosted Nato training drills, making it a potent symbol of Russia’s longstanding fears that the expansion of the 30-member Western military alliance to include former Soviet states threatens its security — something Nato denies. Still, the perceived threat from Nato is central to Moscow’s justifications for the war, and it has demanded Ukraine drop its ambitions to join the alliance.
Russian fighters also fired at the airport in the western city of Ivano-Frankivsk, which is less than 94 miles (150 kilometres) north of Romania and 155 miles (250 kilometres) from Hungary, two other Nato allies. Nato said on Sunday that it currently does not have any personnel in Ukraine, though the United States has increased the number of US troops deployed to Poland.
Russian naval forces cut off Ukraine's international sea trade
The UK says Russia has isolated Ukraine from international maritime trade by creating a distant blockade of the country's Black Sea coast. An intelligence update from the Ministry of Defence said: "Russian naval forces have established a distant blockade of Ukraine's Black Sea coast, effectively isolating Ukraine from international maritime trade."
The World Trade Organisation says trade by sea makes up more than 80% of the world's trade volume.
The update continued: "Russian naval forces are also continuing to conduct missile strikes against targets throughout Ukraine. Russia has already conducted one amphibious landing in the Sea of Azoz and could look to conduct further such operations in the coming weeks."
Zelensky's warning to Nato as Russia-Ukraine talks continue
Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky has issued a chilling warning to NATO countries. He claimed it was "only a matter of time before Russian missiles fall... on the homes of citizens of NATO countries."
In his daily video address to the people of Ukraine and the wider world, Mr Zelensky urged Nato leaders to establish a no-fly zone over the country. The West has expressed reluctance to do this due to fears it could escalate the war into a nuclear confrontation.
Mr Zelensky said: "Last year, I made a clear warning to NATO leaders that if there were no tough preventive sanctions against Russia, it would start a war. We were right.
"I have been saying for a long time that Nord Stream is a weapon that will hit Europe. Now it's obvious. And now I repeat again - if you do not close our sky, it is only a matter of time before Russian missiles fall on your territory. NATO territory. On the homes of citizens of NATO countries."
Mr Zelensky also vowed to continue negotiating with Russia and said he is trying to arrange a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin. He said there had been daily video calls between representatives of both countries.
Mr Zelensky said the talks are needed to establish a ceasefire and more humanitarian corridors. He said such corridors have saved more than 130,000 people over the course of six days.
Ukrainian MP Lesia Vasylenko said Monday's talks would resume at 10.30am Kyiv time. In a defiant tweet she said: "When asked if Ukraine can compromise, I say 'sure'. We can make a 10% discount on the amount of reparations Russia shall pay for all the damage in Ukraine and all the losses incurred by our partners."
Russian TV installed in Melitopol after pro-Kremlin MP replaces detained elected mayor
The new mayor of the Russian-occupied Ukrainian city Melitopol has said "Russian TV channels" would be installed in the region. Halyna Danylchenko cited a “great deficit of trustworthy information” as justification to start broadcasting the channels, according to numerous reports.
Danilchenko has taken over from Ivan Fedorov, the democratically-elected mayor who was kidnapped by armed men on Friday. He is now under detention.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has called for Mr Fedorov's immediate release and described his "abduction" as a "crime against democracy". The country's prosecutor general has opened a treason investigation into the newly-installed mayor.
Australia announces sanctions on oligarchs including Roman Abramovich
The Australian government has announced sanctions against 33 Russian oligarchs, including Chelsea FC owner Roman Abramovich. The sanctions target oligarchs, prominent businesspeople and their immediate family members.
A statement from Australia's government said: "The sanctions announced today reinforce Australia's commitment to sanction those people who have amassed vast personal wealth and are of economic and strategic significance to Russia, including as a result of their connections to Russian President Vladimir Putin."
The statement continued: "We will continue to coordinate closely with our partners to impose a high cost on Russia for its actions. The Australian government reiterates our strongest support for Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity and for the people of Ukraine."
Fighting continues on multiple fronts
In the southern Ukrainian city of Mykolaiv, near the Black Sea, authorities reported nine people killed in bombings. They said Russian airstrikes on a monastery and a children’s resort in the eastern Donetsk region hit spots where monks and others were sheltering, wounding 32 people.
Around the capital, Kyiv, a major political and strategic target for the invasion, fighting also intensified, with overnight shelling in the northwestern suburbs and a missile strike on Sunday that destroyed a warehouse to the east. An American filmmaker and journalist was killed in an attack by Russian troops.
Ukrainian children given cancer care in England
Twenty-one Ukrainian children will receive lifesaving cancer treatment in England after being brought over by the Government with the support of Polish authorities and clinicians. The children and their immediate family members landed in England on Sunday evening from Poland and will be triaged by NHS clinicians to understand their health needs before being sent to NHS hospitals in England to continue their care.
The vital and in many cases lifesaving cancer treatment will be provided free of charge by the health service across hospitals in England. Hospitals in Poland have taken in many children needing health care who have arrived from Ukraine. With more children crossing the border requiring immediate treatment, the UK has responded to Poland’s call for support from international partners to provide additional care.
The UK partnered with St Jude Children’s Research Hospital, a non-profit American organisation which specialises in paediatric diseases, to arrange an urgent flight for the children. The Department of Health and Social Care has collaborated with the Department for Transport, the Home Office, and the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office to facilitate the transfer of the children from Poland to the UK
Prime Minister Boris Johnson said: "The sickening suffering of innocent civilians in Ukraine is truly horrific. This vital lifesaving medical care is another important step in our support for the people of Ukraine and their resistance against Putin’s illegal invasion. I am hugely grateful to our fantastic NHS staff as well as our partners, including our Polish friends, for their support in bringing these children to the UK and we will continue to do all we can to support them as they continue their critical treatment here."
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