Russian President Vladimir Putin will receive China's state and party leader Xi Jinping this Monday for a three-day state visit to Moscow. The visit takes place against the background of Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine. According to the Kremlin, the talks scheduled until Wednesday are about developing relations towards an all-encompassing partnership and strategic cooperation between Russia and China. Putin and Xi have met about 40 times over the years.

For Putin, the guest from Beijing comes in handy, because he can show that he is not isolated internationally. China has not condemned the war against Ukraine and is ostensibly committed to peace negotiations. It is also the first visit since Putin was arrested for war crimes in Ukraine.

Zelenskyj: Arrest warrant against Putin is a turning point

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyj addressed this arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court in The Hague in his video address on Sunday. He spoke of a turning point: From now on, it was clear that Russia would have to answer for its crimes. "The evil state will be held accountable for any act of terrorism against Ukrainians," Zelensky said. For his country, Monday is the 390th day in the defensive struggle against the Russian invasion.

Before the visit from China, Putin underlined the importance of bilateral Russian-Chinese relations. They have never been as close as they are now, Putin wrote in an article for the newspaper "Renmin Ribao" (People's Daily). The Kremlin published the Russian version of the text on its website.

The Kremlin chief thanked "for China's balanced stance on the events in Ukraine." China is considered a close ally of Russia. At the same time, Beijing has largely adhered to international sanctions against Moscow in order not to become the target of punitive measures itself. A peace initiative recently presented by Beijing was greeted with disappointment in the West.

Xi Jinping continued these Chinese ideas in an article for the Russian government newspaper Rossijkaja Gazeta. In resolving the Ukraine conflict, the goals and principles of the UN Charter must be observed, he said. This includes the territorial integrity of all states. At the same time, Xi said the "reasonable concerns of all states in the field of security" must be taken into account. All efforts to resolve the Ukrainian crisis should be supported. It is important to maintain the stability of global production and supply chains.

In his article, Putin welcomed Beijing's willingness to play a constructive role in resolving the conflict. The two heads of state spoke out in favour of a multipolar world order that would not be dominated by one power.

Fierce battles around Bachmut

According to Zelenskyi, Russia will have to answer for all crimes in the war against Ukraine. It is about "responsibility for every attack on Ukraine, for every life destroyed, for every deported Ukrainian child." The international arrest warrant against Putin for the abduction of Ukrainian children is "a really significant result under international law for Ukraine": From now on, it is clear that at the end of the war Russia must assume "the full range of its responsibility," said the Ukrainian president.

According to the Ukrainian General Staff, the fighting in eastern Ukraine continued to be fierce. The city of Bakhmut in Donbass will continue to be defended. There, several assault attacks of the enemy had been repelled.

According to Ukrainian authorities, three civilians were killed by a Russian artillery attack in a village near the front line in the Zaporizhia region. Two people were injured. According to the information, the house in the village of Kamjanske was hit by projectiles of a multiple rocket launcher degrees (hail). Four Ukrainian soldiers were killed in an accident at a military training ground north of Kiev. This was announced by the army without details.

Meanwhile, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock pledged support to Ukraine as long as necessary. "As long as Putin bombs innocent people, breaks the UN Charter and does not withdraw his troops, we will try to help save lives by supporting Ukraine," she told Die Welt. This is done "with arms deliveries, but also with financial aid, with medicines, in the reconstruction of school buildings or the water and electricity supply". It is clear that peace and freedom cannot be created in the long run purely militarily. "But as long as the Russian president holds the gun to Ukraine's head, negotiations would be blackmail," she said.

Xi Jinping's visit begins in the second half of the day. According to Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, an informal meeting and dinner of the heads of state in the format Tête-à-Tête is initially planned. On Tuesday, the official talks of the delegations are planned.

The foreign and defence ministers of the EU states want to discuss further support for Ukraine. The meeting in Brussels will focus on the procurement of ammunition. The background is concerns that Ukraine could soon lack artillery shells and other important types of ammunition.