An explosion destroyed Russian Kalibre missiles being transported by rail in Crimea, Ukraine’s military intelligence said on Facebook. The “mysterious” blast in Djankoi “continues the process of Russia’s demilitarization,” it said.
(Bloomberg) — An explosion destroyed Russian Kalibre missiles being transported by rail in Crimea, Ukraine’s military intelligence said on Facebook. The “mysterious” blast in Djankoi “continues the process of Russia’s demilitarization,” it said.
Russian officials said anti-aircraft downed drones in the area, where a state of emergency was declared.
Chinese President Xi Jinping kicked off the second day of his state visit to Moscow with talks with Russia’s prime minister. Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida will visit Ukraine on Tuesday for talks with President Volodymyr Zelenskiy.
Key Developments
- Xi Meets Russian Prime Minister After Long Chat With Putin
- Japan Leader Kishida to Visit Ukraine for Talks With Zelenskiy
- Mr. Zelenskiy, It’s Xi Jinping On the Line: Andreas Kluth
(All times CET)
Xi Meets Russian Prime Minister After Long Chat With Putin (9:40 a.m.)
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine was a major topic for the leaders, according to both sides, with Putin saying before the meeting that he’s ready to discuss China’s initiative for ending the war. Xi also invited President Vladimir Putin and Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin to visit China, Interfax reported.
The US and its allies have rejected those proposals as biased toward Russia, and Ukraine has been cool, as well. Xi is expected to speak to Zelenskiy for the first time since the February 2022 invasion after his Russia visit. Xi had more than four hours of conversations the day before with Putin.
Russian Missiles Destroyed in Crimea Explosion (8:20 a.m.)
Russian missiles being transported by rail in Crimea were destroyed in an explosion, Ukraine’s military intelligence said on Facebook. The “mysterious” blast in Djankoi which hit Kalibre missiles “continues the process of Russia’s demilitarization” and prepares Crimea for “deoccupation,” it said.
Russian officials said anti-aircraft downed drones in the Djankoi area, where a state of emergency was declared. The wreckage injured one person and damaged a home and a store but didn’t affect the railway network, officials said.
Japan Leader Kishida to Visit Ukraine for Talks With Zelenskiy (8:10 a.m.)
Kishida intends to show his support for Ukraine during the visit, Japan’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement. The Japanese premier had been on a trip to India, where he condemned Russia’s invasion in a policy speech and sought to bring Prime Minister Narendra Modi closer to the G-7 nations’ position on the war.
The visit is the most visible symbol yet of support from Tokyo for Zelenskiy, who has spoken with Kishida at online conferences and addressed Japan’s parliament through a video link in March of last year.
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