Meanwhile, Russia is pushing into northeastern Ukraine after a surprise assault there last week. More than 7,500 people have been evacuated from the Kharkiv region.
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.
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.
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.
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."
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.
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.
On the other side, 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.
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.
