May 16, 2024 - Russia's war in Ukraine

Our live coverage for the day has ended. Follow the latest Ukraine news or read through the updates below.

Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping sought to deepen ties across energy, trade and security on Thursday, against a backdrop of political unrest.

Both leaders made specific references to the war in Ukraine, sovereignty in Taiwan and fighting in the Middle East, during Putin's two-day state visit to Beijing.

Here are the latest developments:

• 'International turbulence': Putin and Xi expressed "very deep concern" over "destabilizing" US military activity with allies "that have a clear anti-Russian and anti-Chinese orientation," in a statement released by the Kremlin. Referencing Moscow's invasion of Ukraine, Russia said it welcomes the readiness of China "to play a constructive role" in the political and diplomatic settlement of the war.
• Symbolic overseas trip: Putin's visit marked his first foray abroad since starting a new term as Russia’s president last week, as Russia and China form closer relations in the face of heavy friction with the West. Relations between the two countries are "experiencing the best period in their history,” the statement from the Kremlin added.
• Zelensky warns of Russian advances: In Ukraine, President Volodymyr Zelensky met with senior military officials in Kharkiv city. He described an "extremely difficult" outlook for Ukrainian troops on the ground, after Moscow's forces drove a surprise cross-border attack in the northeastern region earlier this month. Lt. Col. Nazar Voloshyn said combat in the Kharkiv direction "is changing dynamically." 
• Civilians try to flee beleaguered Kharkiv: A senior Ukrainian minister alleged Russian forces are prohibiting civilians evacuating from the town of Vovchansk, one of the sites of Moscow's sweeping offensive towards Kharkiv. CNN is unable to independently verify the claims from Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko and has asked the Russian Defense Ministry for comment. 
• Ukrainians celebrate national identity: On the third Thursday of May, Ukrainians worldwide celebrate the Vyshyvanka, a traditional embroidered shirt. Nowadays, many wear the Vyshyvanka as a challenge to Russia, as a display of their national identity and to celebrate the long history of Ukraine. Zelensky said the shirt is synonymous with "those who defend humanity, freedom, and the right to self-identity," in a post on X.

Chinese President Xi Jinping had an in-depth exchange of views Thursday on the war in Ukraine with his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, according to a statement from China’s foreign ministry. 

During the meeting in Beijing, Xi conveyed China’s support for convening an international peace conference to settle the “Ukraine crisis” and reiterated China’s commitment to continue to play a constructive role in an early political settlement, according to the statement.

Putin said he welcomed China’s stance on Ukraine and said Moscow would further ensure a consensus is reached between both sides.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has said he would “very much like China to be involved” in Ukraine’s peace plan.

The Ukrainian peace summit is set to take place next month in Switzerland.

Russia has not been represented in any of the four closed-door international peace talks so far and will not be participating this year. China has only attended one hosted by its increasingly close strategic partner, Saudi Arabia.

NATO believes Russian troops don't have the numbers necessary for a "strategic" breakthrough in Ukraine's Kharkiv region, a senior commander of the military alliance said on Thursday, though he acknowledged that Moscow's forces have made "local advances."

Responding to a question about Russian troops pushing deeper into the northeastern region, Gen. Christopher Cavoli, Supreme Allied Commander Europe, told a press conference in Brussels that "(Russians) don't have the skill and the capability to do it, to operate at the scale necessary to exploit any breakthrough to strategic advantage."

NATO's assessment comes after Russian forces took control of several villages close to the border since launching a surprise attack on May 10. 

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met with senior military officials in Kharkiv earlier on Thursday. He described an "extremely difficult" outlook for Kyiv's troops on the ground, where "we are strengthening our units." 

Ukraine’s Lt. Col. Nazar Voloshyn warned combat in the Kharkiv direction "remains complicated and is changing dynamically."

On the third Thursday of every May, Ukrainians across the globe celebrate the vyshyvanka, a traditional embroidered shirt.

Yet the stitched panelling of a vyshyvanka extends beyond the garment itself. For many Ukrainians, each star or flower design is a symbolic expression of their right to self-determination.

"I think that vyshyvanka is a very vivid symbol that speaks for itself. Wearing vyshyvanka is very easy to show your identity, your position, your belonging to a certain group," said Natalia Kamenska, co-founder of the Ukrainian brand Gunja Project. "It is a way of saying 'We are Ukrainians.'"

Ukrainians mark Vyshyvanka Day by wearing the traditional dress. Kamenska, a designer, told CNN the shirt helps Ukrainian people form a sense of belonging in the face of colossal grief and uncertainty.

"All Ukrainians have been thinking about who we are and how important it is to defend our land, our right to exist on this land, and our independence," she told CNN. "A lot of people wear vyshyvankas. More and more people have become interested in the history of their family and their country.

Kamenska described the war in Ukraine as "a tumultuous time" for her compatriots.

"With families being separated, people fleeing their homeland, people have a sense of constant anxiety from not knowing what will happen tomorrow," she added. "For many people, vyshyvanka is a thing that reminds them of the importance of everything that is happening now."

The Russian military is not allowing civilians to evacuate from the town of Vovchansk in the Kharkiv region, according to Ukraine's interior minister on Thursday. Ihor Klymenko said that National Police investigators in the region have launched a criminal investigation "into the violation of the rules and customs of war." 

CNN is unable to independently verify Klymenko's claims and has contacted the Russian Defense Ministry for comment. 

Klymenko said the police evacuation teams continue to work in Vovchansk "despite intense fighting and are trying to ensure further evacuation of people." 

Oleksii Kharkivskyi, the chief patrol officer of the Vovchansk Police Department, posted on Facebook on Thursday that evacuations are still underway and that "staying in the town is dangerous."

The head of the Kharkiv regional military administration, Oleh Syniehubov, also said Thursday that evacuations continue but claims Russian forces have used cluster munitions to attack a village in the Vovchansk area, injuring five people.

Some context: The town of Vovchansk, located about 60 km (or about 37 miles) northeast of Ukraine's second-largest city of Kharkiv, has been the scene of some of the most intense battles in areas near the border in recent days as Russia continues efforts to push deeper into Ukrainian territory.

Every year, on the third Thursday of May, Ukrainians worldwide celebrate Vyshyvanka Day. 

This holiday is dedicated to preserving Ukraine's famous embroidered shirt, known as a “vyshyvanka," as a symbol of its people's material and spiritual heritage. 

Ukrainian embroidery varies in its techniques, and different regions across the country produce their own patterns. Traditionally, each stitch, star or flower has a particular meaning.

In the past, many Ukrainians saw the embroidery as a protective talisman and it represents happiness, fate, life and victory. 

Nowadays, Ukrainians also wear the vyshyvanka as a challenge to Russia, as a display of their national identity and to celebrate the long history of Ukraine.

Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping agreed to strengthen ties across energy, trade, security and geopolitics on Thursday, as both parties displayed their close relationship against the backdrop of regional unrest.

Both leaders shared their vision in a statement released by the Kremlin after a meeting in Beijing, with specific references to the war in Ukraine, sovereignty in Taiwan and fighting in the Middle East. 

"In conditions of international turbulence, Russian-Chinese relations stand the test of rapid changes in the world, demonstrating strength and stability, and are experiencing the best period in their history," according to the statement.

Putin and Xi said they would "deepen trust" and military "cooperation" by expanding dual exercises and combat training, regularly holding joint sea and air patrols and improving the "level of joint response to challenges and threats."

The two countries also expressed "very deep concern" over what they described as "extremely destabilizing" US military activity with allies "that have a clear anti-Russian and anti-Chinese orientation."

Referencing Moscow's invasion of Ukraine, Russia said it welcomes the readiness of China "to play a constructive role" in the political and diplomatic settlement of the war.

"It is necessary to eliminate its root causes and adhere to the principle of the indivisibility of security," the statement said. "There can be no winners in a nuclear war and it should never be fought."

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met with senior military officials in the city of Kharkiv on Thursday, as Russian forces push deeper into the northeastern region. 

The Ukrainian leader described an "extremely difficult" outlook for Kyiv's troops on the ground, where "we are strengthening our units." He also met with the senior officials from other border and frontline regions.

Efforts to bolster Ukrainian forces were concentrated in Lyptsi and Vovchansk; a town located about 60 km (37 miles) northeast of Kharkiv city and the site of some of the most intense battles near the border. 

At the same time, Lt. Col. Nazar Voloshyn warned combat in the Kharkiv direction "remains complicated and is changing dynamically." 

"Our forces are preventing the occupiers from gaining a foothold in certain areas in the northern Kharkiv region," Voloshyn said in a television interview. 

"The enemy's advance in certain settlements has been stopped. However, the enemy is trying to ensure conditions for further advancement in order to take advantageous positions," Voloshyn added. 

Russian forces have taken control of more than nine villages close to the border since they launched a surprise attack on May 10.