Russian Mercenaries Claim Kyiv Prepares Counterattack as Putin and Xi Set to Sign Agreements

Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin are expected to sign a joint statement on their partnership and potential agreements on "different areas of cooperation" during Xi's state visit to Moscow. The leaders are also discussing the war in Ukraine and finding a peaceful solution to the conflict. Meanwhile, Russian mercenaries fighting in Ukraine say their forces control nearly 70% of Bakhmut and warn of an upcoming Ukrainian counteroffensive. Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida is also visiting Ukraine for summit talks with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.