Biden dismisses China's proposed Ukraine-Russia peace plan

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko speaks to members of the media in Minsk, Belarus, on February 16. (Natalia Kolesnikova/AFP/Getty Images)

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko says had a long phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday - the one-year anniversary of Russia’s invasion in Ukraine - according to Belarus state news agency BelTA.

“I’ll tell you a secret, last night we talked with him for a long time on various topics,” Lukashenko told reporters, according to BelTA.

“Listen, God forbid that we have a relationship that it always be like that.”

It comes after Lukashenko recently claimed there is “no way” his country would send troops into Ukraine unless it is attacked, amid fears Russia’s close ally will help to facilitate a spring offensive by Moscow.

“We are peaceful people. We know what war is and we don’t want war,” the authoritarian leader Lukashenko, who has close ties with Russian President Vladimir Putin, said at a small gathering of journalists from international media, including CNN, at Minsk’s Palace of Independence

“There is no way we are going to send our troops to Ukraine unless you are going to commit aggression against Belarus,” Lukashenko said. “But don’t forget Russia is our ally, legally, morally and politically,” he added.

Some context: Belarus helped Russia launch its initial invasion of Ukraine last February, allowing the Kremlin’s troops to enter the country through the 1,000-kilometer (621-mile) Ukrainian-Belarusian border to the north of Kyiv.

Minsk has since claimed on numerous occasions that Ukrainian drones and missiles have entered its territory, sometimes without providing evidence.

There have been fears throughout the conflict that Belarus will again be used as a launching ground for another offensive, or that Lukashenko’s own troops will join the conflict, citing such episodes as provocation against its sovereignty.

Tensions have been mounting at the border again in recent days as Ukraine braces for a renewed attack.

Ukrainian servicemen of the 80th Independent Air Assault Brigade fire rounds towards Russian targets near Bakhmut on Friday. (Marko Djurica/Reuters)

The Ukrainian military says that Friday saw a high level of rocket attacks and airstrikes by Russian forces in areas along the frontlines.

The General Staff in its report early Saturday said that Russian forces had launched 27 airstrikes and 75 multiple launch rocket attacks in addition to artillery barrages.

A prominent Russian military blogger, who goes by the name WarGonzo, said that fighters of the Wagner private military company had "attacked in several directions at once," around Bakhmut. He claimed "a slight advance" to the east of the city and repeated Wagner's claim that it now controls Berkhivka, a village north-west of Bakhmut. 

Unofficial Ukrainian military accounts have given a similar picture of the fighting around Bakhmut, with most access routes to the city from the west and north-west cut off.

To the south-west of Donetsk city, another zone that sees almost constant battles, the Ukrainians said that Russian units had carried out "unsuccessful offensive actions" at several places in the region.

Russian military bloggers have also reported offensive actions in several areas of this front, including Mariinka, which has been almost obliterated by the fighting.  

The Ukrainian General Staff also reported an uptick of cross-border shelling into the Kharkiv region, saying 23 communities had been affected - including the border town of Vovchansk.

In the south, according to the General Staff, at least 34 places in Kherson region came under artillery attack from Russian positions on the east bank of the Dnipro. It also claimed that "The russian invaders are searching houses and seizing boats and other watercraft."

The General Staff also claimed that in the occupied city of Mariupol, people were being denied new housing for lack of paperwork.

CNN cannot verify the claim.

Adviser to President Zelensky, Mykhailo Podolyak, speaks during an interview with AFP in Kyiv on January 10. (Genya Savilov/AFP/Getty Images/FILE)

Mykhailo Podolyak, a Ukrainian politician who advises President Volodymyr Zelensky, has hit out at China for "betting on an aggressor" after Beijing repeated its call for a political settlement to the Ukraine war.

"If you claim to be a global player, you don't offer an unrealistic plan," he tweeted.

"You don't bet on an aggressor who broke international law and will lose the war."

On Friday China released a paper outlining its position on Ukraine.

In it, China’s Foreign Ministry called for a resumption of peace talks, stressed its opposition to the use of nuclear weapons, and an end to unilateral sanctions, an apparent criticism of measures opposed by the US and the West.

China has sought to present itself as neutral over the conflict, but has so far avoided calling it an invasion and has kept up diplomatic and economic support for Moscow.

Zelensky said Friday Ukraine "will work with China" if they show respect for international law and territorial integrity. The Ukrainian president said he would like to hold a bilateral meeting with Chinese leader Xi Jinping.

Also on Friday, US President Joe Biden said that there's no evidence "so far" that China will militarily back Russia in Ukraine, while warning any support would have economic ramifications for Beijing.

Russian forces shelled the southern Ukrainian Nikopol district nine times overnight Friday into Saturday, according to the head of the Dnipropetrovsk region military administration. 

Russian shelling hit the cities of Nikopol and Marhanets, but no casualties were reported, Serhii Lysak said in a Telegram post on Saturday. 

In the Nikopol city, three schools, an administrative building, two private enterprises, a shop, 10 high-rise buildings, 11 houses, outbuildings, cars, gas mains and a power line were damaged.

In the Marhanets city, 12 houses, 10 outbuildings, a gas main and a power line were damaged.

A car caught on fire but has been extinguished, Lysak said. 

An American Army veteran from Marshfield, Wisconsin, died in action on February 16 in Ukraine, according to CNN affiliate WSAW-TV.  

"We can confirm the deaths of US citizens in Ukraine,” a spokesperson for the US State Department told CNN on Friday. "We are in touch with their respective families and are providing all possible consular assistance.”  

Andrew Peters, 28, joined the International Legion of Defense of Ukraine, WSAW-TV reported. The legion was created by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to allow foreign citizens, “to join the resistance against the Russian occupants and fight for global security,” according to the legion’s official website.   

Peters served a tour in Afghanistan in 2014, the affiliate said. 

The burnt wreckage of Russian military equipment lies on a road in Makarivon on April 1, 2022. (Serhii Mykhalchuk/Global Images Ukraine/Getty Images)

On the one-year anniversary of Russia's invasion, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky shared messages of hope as anxiety and resolve filled the air throughout Ukrainian cities.

Zelensky declared 2023 as the year of Ukraine's victory over Russia, and expressed confidence in his country's ability to fend off attacks, but did not speculate on how soon the fighting could end.

Officials around the world joined Zelensky in his hopeful message, releasing statements emphasizing their support for Ukraine.

If you're just now catching up, here's what you need to know:

China developments: China's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said Friday that China is willing to play a constructive role in resolving issues between Ukraine and Russia, but did not provide concrete details on what that looks like. His comments come after China released a document Friday outlining its position on the conflict in Ukraine, which Ukrainian diplomat Zhanna Leshchynska called "a good sign." Russia's Foreign Ministry also voiced appreciation Friday for the proposal, and blamed Ukraine and the West for the lack of negotiations on it.

Zelensky said Friday Ukraine "will work with China" if they show respect for international law and territorial integrity. The Ukrainian president said he would like to hold a bilateral meeting with Chinese leader Xi Jinping.

Shelling continues. Ongoing Russian shelling has killed at least three civilians in Ukraine's east and south, and injured several others over the last 24 hours, according to situational updates from local authorities. The heating system in the southern Ukrainian city of Kherson has been damaged due to Russian shelling and residents may have to remain without heat for several days, the Kherson region military administration said Friday. A spokesperson for Ukraine's Air Force said the Ukrainian military is on alert for any attacks by Russian forces and that security measures across the country have been increased.

Sanctions. The European Union has approved a 10th round of sanctions against Russia, the Swedish Presidency of the Council of the EU said on Friday. And US Secretary of State Antony Blinken rolled out more sanctions, visa restrictions and additional tariffs for Russia in a Friday announcement. Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said he also intends to present the idea of imposing new sanctions against Russia during a virtual meeting with G7 leaders and Zelensky. British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly too announced a new package of sanctions and trade measures against Russia on Friday. The EU's foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell, said Russia’s economy will experience more difficulties due to the continued sanctions.

Military assistance. Germany will send four more Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine, increasing the number it's sending from 14 to 18, according to the German defense ministry. Sweden also pledged to send Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine in a military package that includes further air defense components, Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said Friday. A first delivery of Leopard 2 tanks from Poland has arrived in Ukraine, a spokesperson for the Polish defense ministry said. Meanwhile, Russia could provide Iran with fighter jets as military cooperation between the two countries deepens, the White House said Friday.

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky attends a news conference on the first anniversary of Russian invasion of Ukraine. (Gleb Garanich/Reuters)

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Russia will continue to try to destabilize Moldova, and that Moscow's attempts should be stopped with "more weapons" and "more sanctions."

Zelensky's comments came after Russia sought to flip the narrative Friday, claiming Kyiv was the government provoking tensions in the nation on its southern border, not Moscow. The Ukrainian president responded during an address marking one year of Russia's full-scale invasion.

Zelensky said his government respects the territorial integrity of Moldova, and that Transnistria — a sliver of land where Russia has inserted a so-called peacekeeping force to back pro-Moscow separatists — is included in that rightful Moldovan territory.

Zelensky said Russia is carrying out a "hybrid war and information war" in Moldova.

"Putin needs to show successes and victories. But there will be no victory on the battlefield in Ukraine. Therefore, he can go looking for success where there are weak points," he said.

"I think it's important to stop these attempts with more weapons, more sanctions, the appropriate steps," he added.

More background: Officials in Moldova and in several Western governments have expressed concern in recent weeks that Moscow is mirroring some of the steps it used as a pretext for invasions in Georgia and Ukraine.

Moldovan President Maia Sandu has warned of an alleged Russian plot to destabilize her government, and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken voiced "deep concern" about the prospect of Moscow meddling with the tiny country.

Russia has leveled its own accusations at Ukraine, warning against NATO or Kyiv taking "adventurous steps"in Transnistria, and claiming that an attack on Moscow's compatriots in the territory would be considered an attack on Russia itself.

A spokesperson for Ukraine's State Border Service responded to Russia's comments Friday, saying the Ukrainian military and National Guard have taken “increased measures on the border with Transnistria" but solely "to prevent any provocations from the other side.”

CNN's Katharina Krebs contributed to this report.

On Friday, the Russian foreign ministry issued a statement warning NATO and Ukraine against "adventurous steps" in Transnistria — a breakaway region of Moldova where some 1,500 Russian troops are stationed.

It warned that while Moscow stands for using "political and diplomatic means" to solve any issues, Russian forces will ensure the "protection of their compatriots" in Colbasna in Transnistria, and will "adequately respond" to any provocations from Kyiv.

"Any action that poses a threat to their security will be considered, in accordance with international law, as an attack on the Russian Federation," the statement added.

Ukrainian officials have recently accused Russia of plotting to destabilize Moldova. On February 13, Moldova's President Maia Sandu echoed Ukraine's claims and accused Russia of planning to use "saboteurs who have undergone military training and are disguised as civilians" to destabilize the country.

"The statements of President Zelensky about the plans of the Russian Federation to destabilize the Republic of Moldova have been confirmed by our institutions," she said.

Late Thursday, the Russian defense ministry claimed that Kyiv had "intensified efforts to prepare for an invasion of the Transnistrian Moldovan Republic."

A prominent Russian military blogger, who goes by the name of WarGonzo, said that "given that we have no direct land supply to Transnistria, and that the unfriendly Moldovan government will most certainly not allow our air force into the sky, the Russian garrison in Transnistria is now probably in the most vulnerable position, compared to the position on other fronts."

Ukraine responds: Addressing Russian accusations that it is building up forces close to the Moldovan territory, a Ukrainian State Border Service spokesperson said the Ukrainian military and National Guard have taken “increased measures on the border with Transnistria" but solely "to prevent any provocations from the other side.”

"Ukraine has always paid attention to Transnistria, as it is actually an enclave of Russia, which could have been used against our state as early as February 24 last year,” said the spokesperson, Andrii Demchenko.

“Fortunately, we did not record any active or provocative actions in this direction either," Demchenko added.

CNN's Mariya Knight contributed to this report.

US President Joe Biden speaks to reporters before he boards Marine One on February 24 in Washington DC. (Andrew Harnik/AP)

There's no evidence "so far" that China will militarily back Russia in Ukraine, US President Joe Biden said Friday while warning any support would have economic ramifications for Beijing.

Asked if he was worried China would fight with Russia, the president said he spoke to Chinese leader Xi Jinping about the issue and about the economic consequences during the summer. "And I said, ‘Look, it's not a threat. It's just a statement,” Biden said as he departed the White House.

Some context: The US has intelligence that the Chinese government is considering providing Russia with drones and ammunition for use in the war in Ukraine, three sources familiar with the intelligence told CNN.

It does not appear that Beijing has made a final decision yet, the sources said, but negotiations between Russia and China about the price and scope of the equipment are ongoing.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken raised the issue when he met with his Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi, on Saturday on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference, officials said.