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March 21, 2023 - Russia-Ukraine news

By Kathleen Magramo, Sana Noor Haq, Aditi Sangal, Alisha Ebrahimji, Elise Hammond and Tori B. Powell, CNN

Updated 12:05 a.m. ET, March 22, 2023

What we covered here

President Xi Jinping and President Vladimir Putin pledged to deepen China-Russia ties during Moscow talks on Tuesday, a show of unity that has heightened concerns Beijing will provide cover for Russia's war in Ukraine.
The leaders emphasized that the Ukrainian crisis should be solved through peace talks, according to a Chinese state news agency. But those overtures were dismissed by Kyiv and the West, which have repeated that any peace agreement must include a Russian withdrawal from Ukraine’s territory.
A Ukrainian official told CNN discussions are underway with China to organize a call between Xi and President Volodymyr Zelensky to discuss Beijing’s peace proposal.
Meanwhile, the US will send Patriot missile systems to Ukraine faster than originally planned, defense officials say, and also accelerate the time it takes to ship Abrams tanks to Kyiv.

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5:58 p.m. ET, March 21, 2023

Russian forces are "running out of offensive potential" in fight for Bakhmut, Ukrainian officer says

From CNN's Maria Kostenko

Ukrainian servicemen fire with a D-30 howitzer, near Bakhmut on Tuesday. (Sergey Shestak/AFP/Getty Images)

A Ukrainian army major in the Bakhmut area says the situation remains extremely difficult, but that he believes the Russians are losing their "offensive potential."

Maksym Zhorin said on his Telegram channel that "the main task for the Ukrainian army is to hold the connection corridor, which allows for the supply and evacuation of the wounded."

"Therefore the fighting around this corridor, in the area of Ivankivske and Bohdanivka, is the most difficult," he said.

The two villages sit on routes west from Bakhmut toward the city of Kostiantynivka.

"One thing I can say for sure is that the enemy is gradually running out of offensive potential," Zhorin said. "They have sustained significant losses while trying to advance in the South and in the North, as well as while trying to attack directly through urban areas. Nevertheless, the endless assault attempts continue."
"The Russians have a goal to take Bakhmut at any cost. We have orders to hold the line. We are following our orders."

3:14 p.m. ET, March 21, 2023

Xi departs the Kremlin following state dinner with Putin

From CNN'sXiaofei Xu and Darya Tarasova

Chinese President Xi Jinping has left the Kremlin following a state dinner on Tuesday evening with Russian President Vladimir Putin, according to footage on Russian state media.

“Together, we should push forward these changes that have not happened for 100 years. Take care,” the Chinese leader said during a goodbye handshake with Putin.

2:50 p.m. ET, March 21, 2023

Catch up on what happened on day 2 of talks between Xi and Putin in Moscow

From CNN staff

Russian President Vladimir Putin and China's President Xi Jinping shake hands during a signing ceremony following their talks at the Kremlin in Moscow on March 21. (Mikhail Tereshchenko/AFP/Getty Images)

Talks between Chinese leader Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin continued Tuesday as Western leaders closely monitored day two of Xi's three-day Moscow visit.

Let's catch up on what happened today:

The China-Russia partnership: Putin called Xi a "friend" who he is "in constant contact" with and described all discussions in the Moscow meetings as "successful." Xi said he has built a "close relationship" with Putin over the past decade. The visit is a show of unity that has heightened Western concerns Beijing will provide cover for Russia's war in Ukraine.
What the leaders said about Ukraine: Xi and Putin called for an end to actions that “increase tensions” and prolong the war in Ukraine, according to a readout released by Chinese state media People’s Daily. The two leaders also took part in a document-signing ceremony at the Kremlin, where they said the Ukrainian crisis should be solved through peace talks, according to Chinese state news agency Xinhua.
A state dinner and a toast: To wrap up the second day of talks, Putin and Xi attended a state dinner. Putin gave a speech in which he toasted the health of Xi and the Chinese delegation, the “deepening of the Russian-Chinese partnership and strategic cooperation” and “the prosperity of the Russian and Chinese people.”
A likely aid request: NATO has "seen some signs" that Russia has likely requested lethal aid from China to bolster Moscow’s war in Ukraine, the alliance’s secretary general, Jens Stoltenberg, said Tuesday. Xi's three-day visit to Moscow signals the closer ties developing between China and Russia, he said.
Meanwhile, in Ukraine: The eastern Ukrainian city of Bakhmut remains the focus of Russia's attacks. Earlier this month, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky told CNN that Russian troops would have an "open road" to capture key cities in eastern Ukraine if they seized control of Bakhmut.
A faster timeline for US tanks and missiles: Patriot missile defense systems are also set to be deployed to Ukraine faster than originally planned, and a group of 65 Ukrainian soldiers will complete their training on the systems at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, in the coming days, US defense officials said on Tuesday. The acceleration of Patriot deployments comes the same day the US said it will accelerate the time it takes to ship Abrams tanks to Ukraine by sending older M1-A1 models of America's main battle tank instead of the more modern version, according to two US officials.

3:12 p.m. ET, March 21, 2023

US will send older Abrams tanks to Ukraine which should speed up delivery, Pentagon spokesperson says

From CNN's Haley Britzky

The US has changed course and is now providing Ukraine with 31 M1-A1 Abrams tanks instead of the newer M1-A2 variants previously planned, Pentagon spokesperson Brig. Gen. Patrick Ryder said Tuesday.

“[A]fter further study and analysis on how best to do this, DoD in close coordination with Ukraine has made the decision to provide the M1-A1 variant of the Abrams tank, which will enable us to submit significantly expedite delivery timelines and deliver this important capability to Ukraine by the fall of this year,” Ryder said at a press conference.

He added that the US would also be providing Ukraine with “advances armor and weapons systems” that are “very similar capability” to the M1-A2, including a .50-caliber heavy machine gun and 120 mm cannon.

2:43 p.m. ET, March 21, 2023

UK pushes back against Putin's claim that ammunition with depleted uranium equates to nuclear weapons

From CNN's Jessie Gretener and Darya Tarasova

The UK Ministry of Defense said Russia is “deliberately trying to disinform” after President Vladimir Putin warned the UK against providing Ukraine with ammunition that contains depleted uranium.

Baroness Annabel Goldie, the UK Minister of State at the Ministry of Defense, announced the aid in a statement Monday.

“I would like to note that if all this happens, Russia will have to react accordingly," Putin said during a news conference Tuesday alongside his Chinese counterpart. "I mean that the collective West is already starting to use weapons with a nuclear component,” referencing that the shells have depleted uranium.

In response, a UK MOD spokesperson said, “the British Army has used depleted uranium in its armour-piercing shells for decades. It is a standard component and has nothing to do with nuclear weapons or capabilities. Russia knows this, but is deliberately trying to disinform.”

“Independent research by scientists from groups such as the Royal Society has assessed that any impact to personal health and the environment from the use of depleted uranium munitions is likely to be low,” the spokesperson stated.

2:03 p.m. ET, March 21, 2023

Putin and Xi arrive for state dinner

From CNN's Chris Liakos an Darya Tarasova

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese leader Xi Jinping arrived at the state dinner in Moscow Tuesday, following the second day of talks between the two leaders.

“Russia-Chinese relations are at the highest point ever,” Putin said in an opening speech at the state dinner.

He added that the cooperation between the two counties has “limitless possibilities and prospects.”

Putin ended his speech by toasting to the “health” of Xi and the Chinese delegation, the “deepening of the Russian-Chinese partnership and strategic cooperation” and “the prosperity of the Russian and Chinese people.”

12:32 p.m. ET, March 21, 2023

Xi and Putin call for end to actions that “increase tensions” and prolong war in Ukraine

From CNN's Wayne Chang

Russian President Vladimir Putin and China's President Xi Jinping arrive for a signing ceremony following their talks at the Kremlin in Moscow on March 21. (Grigory Sysoyev/Sputnik/AFP/Getty Images)

Chinese leader Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin are calling for an end to actions that “increase tensions” and prolong the war in Ukraine, according to a readout released by Chinese state media People’s Daily of the two leaders meeting in Moscow Tuesday.

According to the readout, Russia spoke positively about China’s “objective and fair” stance on Ukraine and both sides opposed any country or group of countries harming the “legitimate security interests of other countries in pursuit of military, political or other advantages.”

Russia reiterated its commitment to resuming peace talks as soon as possible, which China appreciated, according to People’s Daily. Russia also welcomed China playing an “active role” in finding a solution to the conflict in Ukraine through political and diplomatic means, including some of the measures China proposed in its 12-point peace plan.

Both leaders said that the “legitimate security concerns of all countries” must be respected when it comes to how to end the war and attempts that “add fuel to fire” as well as “confrontation between blocs” must be prevented, the readout said.

Both sides also opposed any unilateral sanctions unauthorized by the United Nations Security Council.

12:30 p.m. ET, March 21, 2023

Xi says he has built a "close relationship" with Putin over the past decade

From CNN's Xiaofei Xu in Paris and Wayne Chang in Hong Kong

Chinese President Xi Jinping said he has built a close relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin in the past 10 years.

"I reviewed the results of relations between our two countries in the past 10 years with President Putin. We agreed that the relations between our two nations go way beyond ourselves. They are crucial to the world order and all mankind's future and destiny," Xi said during remarks in Moscow on Tuesday following the signing of a joint declaration of cooperation.

"Since last year, the Sino-Russian comprehensive pragmatic cooperation has achieved great results. It continues to show that this cooperation has a solid base, is very complimentary and very tough," Xi continued, adding that trade volume between the two countries increased by 116% compared to a decade ago.

12:27 p.m. ET, March 21, 2023

"China's peace plan can be taken as the basis for a peaceful settlement in Ukraine," Putin says

From CNN's Chris Liakos

China’s proposal for a peace plan in Ukraine, “can be taken as the basis for a peaceful settlement in Ukraine, when the West and in Kyiv are ready for it,” Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Tuesday.

"We believe in many of the points on the peace plan put forward by China,” he added.

Putin said he also discussed sanctions with his Chinese counterpart.

“When we discussed international problems, we stated that Russia and China’s views are converging and very close on a number of them,” Putin said. “Tension in a number of regions in the world is increasing, the conflict and crisis potential is growing, the practice of using illegitimate politically motivated sanctions and other restrictions is expanding.”

“China and Russia are against any states violating the interest of other countries for the sake of military, political or economic benefit,” Putin said.