"If the Russians are using this level of specialists in urban combat, they are probably facing some difficulties," Ivan Petrychak, spokesperson for the 24th Separate Mechanized Brigade, said.
Previously, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk accused the Russian intelligence services of orchestrating a May 2024 arson attack on the Marywilska shopping centre in Warsaw.
"Perhaps in some areas, the intensity decreased slightly to create an image of compliance with their own announcement. But in reality, (Russia) continued attacks every day, using all available weapons — including aircraft to drop guided bombs on Ukraine," Andrii Demchenko, spokesperson for Ukraine’s State Border Guard Service, said.
Beijing supports all efforts toward achieving peace in Ukraine, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said on May 12 when asked about Kyiv and Europe's proposal for a 30-day truce.
"I invited His Holiness to make an apostolic visit to Ukraine. Such a visit would bring real hope to all believers and to all our people," Zelensky said.
Presidential Office chief Andriy Yermak voiced doubt about leading negotiations with anyone from Russia except President Vladimir Putin, implying only the Russian leader can make real decisions.
This includes at least seven people injured in drone attacks overnight on May 12, a date from which Kyiv and its allies put forward a demand for a 30-day unconditional truce, a step that Moscow continues to reject.
"When European unity becomes inconvenient, disinformation goes so far as to make a simple tissue look like drugs," the Elysee Palace reacted to a fake story pushed by Russia.
The comments came after Trump urged Ukraine to agree to direct negotiations with Russia, which has invited Kyiv to peace talks in Istanbul on May 15, without first agreeing to halt military operations.
A Russian drone hit a civilian freight train in Donetsk Oblast on May 12 and injured its driver, Ukrainian Railways said amid Kyiv's calls for a ceasefire.
Moscow and Hanoi agreed to negotiate and sign agreements to construct nuclear power plants in Vietnam, the two countries said in a joint statement on May 11.
The sanctions appear to be in response to Russia's rejection of a 30-day ceasefire that the U.K., alongside Ukraine, France, Germany, and Poland, demanded during a visit to Kyiv on May 10.
Chinese President Xi Jinping (L) and Russian President Vladimir Putin (R) shake hands during the signing ceremony at the Grand Kremlin Palace, on March 21, 2023 in Moscow, Russia. (Contributor via Getty Images)
Russian dictator Vladimir Putin said on March 21, as cited by CNN, that China's so-called peace plan "can be taken as the basis for a peaceful settlement" of Russia's war against Ukraine "when the West and Kyiv are ready for it."
At a joint news conference with Chinese leader Xi Jinping in Moscow, Putin said he "believes in many of the points" of Beijing's proposal, criticized by Ukraine's Western allies.
Beijing's 12-point plan calls on all parties to respect the sovereignty of all nations, safeguard nuclear facilities, facilitate grain exports, and protect civilians and prisoners of war. However, the statement also urges abandoning "the Cold War mentality" and "stopping unilateral sanctions," rhetoric frequently used by Beijing to criticize the West's response to Russia's war.
China has so far refused to condemn Russia's aggression against Ukraine and annexation of Ukrainian territories, which is at odds with the respect for international law and sovereignty outlined in the plan.
President Volodymyr Zelensky earlier said he did not consider China's proposal a peace plan, adding that the document included respect for international law, which already made it possible to work with China.
In its press release published following the March 21 meeting of Xi and Putin, the Chinese Foreign Ministry cited both sides saying the "legitimate security concerns of all countries" must be respected, again failing to condemn Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine and to indicate the aggressor clearly.
According to the ministry, the two leaders signed a statement on "deepening the comprehensive strategic partnership" between Russia and China during Xi's first visit to Moscow since the beginning of the all-out war against Ukraine.
Russian state-controlled media outlet RIA Novosti reported the signing of another document on economic cooperation.
On the same day, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said, as quoted by CNN, that the alliance has "seen some signs" that Russia has asked China to provide lethal aid for its war.
He added there was no evidence of China supplying Russia with lethal weapons, but Moscow's request was being considered by the Chinese authorities, according to NATO's information.
"We see how China and Russia are coming closer and closer in the military domain — joint exercises, joint patrols, naval and air patrols — in the economic domain and also in the political and diplomatic domain," Stoltenberg told a news conference in Brussels.
"So the meeting in Moscow is part of that pattern where China and Russia are working more and more closely and building a stronger and stronger partnership."
Dinara Khalilova is a reporter at the Kyiv Independent, where she has previously worked as a news editor. In the early weeks of Russia’s full-scale invasion, she worked as a fixer and local producer for Sky News’ team in Ukraine. Dinara holds a BA in journalism from Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv and a Master’s degree in media and communication from the U.K.’s Bournemouth University.
