Xi Jinping spoke by phone with Volodymyr Zelenskyi for the first time since Russia invaded Ukraine after months of pressure from Kyiv for such talks, and the Chinese president told the Kyiv leader that Beijing would send special representatives to Ukraine. In an evening video speech, Zelensky said that there is “an opportunity to use China’s political power to strengthen the principles and rules on which peace should be based.”

Main information about the war in Ukraine, day 428, TEXT:

07:52 The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine said fighting in Bakhmut and nearby areas had intensified, adding that Russian troops had failed to advance to two villages in the northwest and at least a dozen towns had been shelled.

Separately, Serhiy Cherevaty, the spokesman for the Eastern Ukraine military group, said on national television that over the past day, Russian troops had attacked 324 times with artillery and rocket launchers: “The Russians are destroying buildings in Bakhmut to prevent our soldiers from using them as fortifications.”

The statements came after Prigozhin said on Wednesday that his troops “will advance at any cost (toward Bakhmut) just to crush the Ukrainian army and stop its advance.”

07:01 China’s ambassador to Moscow: Ukraine needs a ceasefire, not new weapons

Ukrainian journalist killed by a Russian sniper

05:50 A Ukrainian journalist, an employee of La Reppublica, was killed by a Russian sniper

05:18 European Commission: Vira Yurova feels “increasingly uncomfortable on Twitter” because of Russian propaganda

01:30 VIDEO Zelenskyi: We managed to bring home another 44 people who were held by the Russians. In total, 2,279 Ukrainians were returned from Russian captivity during the war

01:19 More than 200 burials of Wagner soldiers were discovered in the Siberian city

00:44 The special services of Russia, Belarus and China are trying to recruit citizens of Lithuania / “Anteny Russians”

A brief summary of recent events:

• Zelenskyi on the conversation with the Chinese leader: “I had a long and meaningful telephone conversation with President Xi Jinping. I believe that this conversation, as well as the appointment of the ambassador of Ukraine to the People’s Republic of China, will give a powerful impetus to the development of our bilateral relations.”
• The Russian Foreign Ministry said it noted China’s desire to participate in the peace process for Ukraine, but accused Kyiv of undermining any peace efforts. The White House welcomed this phone conversation, but emphasized that it is too early to say whether it will lead to a peace agreement between Russia and Ukraine. The EU welcomed the “important first step” but warned that it should not be an imposed peace.
• On Wednesday, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva again called for a “peace group” to reach a deal between Russia and Ukraine, saying anything could be discussed when the countries sat down for talks.
• The United States has granted JPMorgan permission to process payments for agricultural exports through Rossilhospbank, but the arrangement did not replace the bank’s reconnection to the SWIFT system, two Russian sources told Reuters.
• Russia’s UN representative in Geneva said there had been no real progress in resolving issues raised by Moscow over the Black Sea grain deal, which expires next month.
• The Ukrainian army will receive the necessary weapons in time for a counteroffensive, the most important American general in Europe said in Congress. Ukraine is “in a good position” for a counteroffensive, General Christopher Cavoli added.
• The leader of the “Wagner” mercenaries said that Ukraine is preparing for an “inevitable” counteroffensive and is sending well-prepared units to the city of Bakhmut. Anti-tank ditches near the occupied city of Pology in southeastern Ukraine stretch for 30 km, behind which are rows of concrete “dragon’s teeth” barricades and, beyond, trenches for Russian troops. The defensive structures, visible in satellite images taken by Capella Space, are part of a large a network of fortifications from western Russia, through eastern Ukraine and into Crimea, ready for a major Ukrainian attack.
• Romania has purchased 18 Bayraktar TB2 combat drones, the Turkish ambassador in Bucharest said on Wednesday.
• The Kremlin has threatened to expand the seizure of Western assets in Russia to apply pressure as the West considers using frozen Russian assets abroad.
• A MiG-31 fighter jet crashed into a lake in the Murmansk region of northern Russia after a fire broke out on board.
• The European Commission will ban the import of wheat and other Ukrainian products to Romania until June 5, Minister of Agriculture Petre Daea announced on Wednesday.
• The Russian cultural center in Nicosia, the capital of Cyprus, was destroyed by fire. According to the director of the Russian Center, the building was fired with Molotov cocktails.
• After a conversation with President Xi, Volodymyr Zelenskyy appointed the new ambassador of Ukraine to China, Pavlo Ryabikin.
• Hungary: “We will not support any integration efforts of Ukraine until it restores minority rights.”
• The acting commander of the “Azov” regiment, Bohdan Krotevichi, says that during the upcoming counteroffensive, Ukrainian troops may try to capture small Russian cities.
• South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has announced that his country will not withdraw from the International Criminal Court before hosting Vladimir Putin for the BRICS summit, contrary to what was announced just a day ago.

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• Wednesday’s military events were broadcast LIVE on HotNews.ro