The Latest on Russia's War in Ukraine: Updates and Analysis

Two Ukrainians are dead in the Zaporizhzhia region where more than 80 Russian missile strikes were recorded over the past day. The Russian Foreign Ministry rejected a US request on Thursday to visit detained Wall Street Journal correspondent Evan Gershkovich. A long-awaited phone call between Chinese leader Xi Jinping and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Wednesday has received a tentative welcome in Washington and parts of Europe for its potential to increase dialogue toward resolving Russia’s brutal war in Ukraine. Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said the conversation was “very fruitful” and could open a “new stage” of cooperation between the two countries. Recent satellite imagery reviewed by CNN shows Russian forces have emptied out a key base in northern Crimea.