Facts

• Chinese Pres. Xi Jinping is reportedly planning to speak with the Ukrainian Pres. Zelenskyy, after he visits Moscow next week to meet with Russian Pres. Putin in an attempt to play a more active role in facilitating the end of the year-long war.
• Xi's efforts to play peacemaker between Russia and Ukraine come as China called for a ceasefire and peace talks to find a political solution to the conflict and put an end to unilateral sanctions in a 12-point proposal offered last month.
• However, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Monday that military action was the only way to achieve goals in Ukraine, saying, "So far there are no preconditions for the transition of the process into a peaceful course."
• Meanwhile, Ukrainian forces are locked in a brutal battle with Russian troops to control Bakhmut. The commander of Ukrainian ground forces, Colonel general Oleksandr Syrskyi, said: "All enemy attempts to capture the town are repelled by artillery, tanks, and other firepower," and that Russian Wagner Group mercenaries "are attacking from several directions trying to break through the defenses of our troops and advance to the central districts of the town."
• Earlier, Wagner leader Yevgeny Prigozhin referred to the situation in Bakhmut as "very difficult." He said: "The enemy is battling for every metre [sic]...Ukrainians are throwing endless reserves..."
• Elsewhere, Zelenskyy awarded the Hero of Ukraine to Oleksandr Matsievskyi — a sniper from the 119th Separate Brigade of the Territorial Defense Forces who was executed by machine gun fire on camera after being captured by Russian soldiers.