Ukraine-Russia war live: Press Putin to end war, Germany urges China’s Xi Jinping

German chancellor says he told president Xi that China’s word carries ‘weight’ in Russia

UK has fasttracked the production of laser energy and radio waves weaponry

German chancellor Olaf Scholz said he urged Chinese president Xi Jinping to press Russia to end its war in Ukraine.

Mr Scholz told Mr Xi in a meeting in Beijing on Tuesday that China’s word carries “weight in Russia.”

“I have therefore asked president Xi to influence Russia so that Putin finally calls off his senseless campaign, withdraw his troops and ends this terrible war,” he wrote on social media platform X.

Earlier, a Russian source said Moscow was ready to redeploy Wagner troops working in Africa to bolster its offensive in Ukraine.

The source claimed Russian authorities are preparing to redeploy unspecified detachments of the Africa Corps from Africa to Belgorod, Ukraine, according to US think tank Institute for the Study of War.

Key Points

• Scholz urges China to help end war in Ukraine
• Zelensky: Major power plant destroyed as Kyiv had zero missiles to protect it
• Attacks on Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant put the world at risk, says IAEA
• Vital US aid impacting Ukraine’s defence against Putin’s troops, think tank warns
• Zelensky and his Ukrainian commanders discuss war strategy
• Ukraine uses UK-made Strom Shadow missiles to strike target deep in occupied territory

[17 April 2024 09:13 · Matt Mathers]

Airports in three Russian cities impose temporary restrictions for security reasons

Airports in the Russian cities of Kazan, Nizhnekamsk and Nizhny Novgorod, located to the east of Moscow, imposed temporary restrictions on flights for security reasons, Russia’s aviation watchdog said on Wednesday.

By 10 am Moscow time flight operations resumed in Nizhny Novgorod, Rosaviatsia said.