Ukrainians celebrate their heritage on Vyshyvanka Day, as Russia's invasion rages on (2024)

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.

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.

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 ina 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.

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

American soldier Gordon Black,who wasarrested in Russia on suspicion of theft, has "admitted guilt" and is cooperating with the investigation, Russian state news agency TASS reported Thursday quoting law enforcement agencies.

"The accused admitted guilt and is cooperating with the investigation. This happens in English through an interpreter," a law enforcement representative told TASS.

Staff Sgt. Gordon Black was arrested in Vladivostok on May 2. He is accused of “committing secret theft" of property and causing "significant damage,” the Pervomaisky District Court of Vladivostok said.

Black remains in pre-trial detention as authorities assess whether he has been provided everything he needs, including access to a lawyer, the chairman of the regional Public Monitoring Commission (ONC) Vladimir Naidin told TASS.

Black was stationed in South Korea and after completing his service, went to Vladivostok to visit a Russian woman with whom he had a romantic relationship, according to TASS. He was arrested at a time of elevated tensions between the US and Russia as the war in Ukraine grinds on. However, a Russian Foreign Ministry representative told TASS that the case is “not related to politics or espionage.”

At the time of his arrest, the US State Department confirmed that a US citizen was detained in Russia. “We have no higher priority than the safety and security of U.S. citizens overseas,” a State department spokesperson said at the time. Several other Americans are also being held in Russia, including two who have been declared as wrongfully detained by the US State Department – Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich and former Marine Paul Whelan.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said he and Chinese leader Xi Jinping will discuss the war in Ukraine in informal talks later Thursday evening.

The talks are expected to include Russia’s newly appointed Defense Minister Andrey Belousov and his predecessor Sergei Shoigu, now secretary of Russia’s Security Council.

Putin replaced close ally Shoigu as defense minister with Belousov in a major reshuffle of military leadership earlier this week.

The shake-up comes off the back of significant advances by Russian troops in Ukraine's east. With defense spending soaring, Belousov’s appointment suggests Russia’s strategy will continue to focus on outgunning Ukraine.

Chinese leader Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin have pledged to deepen their partnership in Beijing in a stark show of their growing alignment as Russian troops advance in Ukraine.

Xi hailed the two countries’ deepening ties, which were formalized in a joint statement inked by the leaders in a ceremony Thursday, saying they would “inject strong momentum” in the development of their relations.

Putin – whose delegation includes top defense and security officials – was welcomedby Xi to Beijing’s Great Hall of the People earlier with full military pageantry, heralding the start of his for the start of his two-day state visit.

China is Russia's main trading partner, and international sanctions over Moscow's war in Ukraine have driven the two economies closer.

In meetings with Putin, Xi proclaimed that China-Russian relations have “stood the test of a changing international landscape” and "have been moving forward steadily with enhanced comprehensive strategic coordination," according to a readout from China’s Foreign Ministry.

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Following talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Beijing on Thursday, Chinese leader Xi Jinping said “both sides agree that political resolution to the Ukraine issue is the right direction."

Xi lamented that a "cold-war mentality continues to linger" and "unilateral hegemony, camp confrontations and power politics threaten world peace and security of every country.”

Some background: China has repeatedlydefended its tradewith Russia as part of normal bilateral relations. It also says it maintains a neutral position on the war andplays no other rolethan seeking peace. During meetings with European leaders last week, Xi pushed back against allegations of his country’ssupport for Russia’s war in Ukraine.

Ukrainian band 19.99, who played a rendition of Neil Young’s “Rockin’ in the Free World" with Antony Blinken in Kyiv on Tuesday, said it was a "surreal situation" but they believe it sent an "important message."

The US Secretary of State made the surprise appearance on stage in a bar in Kyiv as part of his visit to the Ukrainian capital, where he also met President Volodymyr Zelensky to discuss battlefield updates and the importance of US aid.

Dmitry Temnyi, lead singer of 19.99, told CNN's Rosemary Church on Thursday that it was like a "fairytale" and praised Blinken as a "very good guitarist."

Drummer Mykyta Kovtunenko said the concert sent an "important message forsupport in these hard times" to all those watching on TV or online.

Blinken's appearance at Barman Dictat — a popular underground co*cktail bar and music venue just off Kyiv’s main street, Khreshchatyk — was kept a secret from the band until the last minute.

The group thought they might be playing with Neil Young as they had been asked to prepare his 1989 hit.

Guitarist Arsen Gorbach said they had received a message saying that "there won't be Neil Young, there would be oneVIP guest."

In a meeting with Chinese leader Xi Jinping, President Vladimir Putin hailed China as Russia's main trading partner, as international sanctions over Moscow's war in Ukraine drive the two economies closer.

During his state visit to Beijing on Thursday, Putin said China and Russia have "accumulated a solid baggage of practical cooperation" and identified energy, industry, and agriculture among his priorities, Russian state news agency TASS reported.

In turn, Xi said China is willing to always be Russia’s “good neighbor, friend and partner” and will work together “to consolidate the lasting friendship between the two peoples" as well as "uphold fairness and justice in the world.”

Record trade: Russia's war in Ukraine has driven the two leaders and their economies closer together — with tradehitting record levelslast year as Russia upped its imports of key commodities from China and Chinese buyers lapped updiscounted Russian fuel.

Sanctions prompt trade shift: The European Union, the US and other nations have imposed a range of sanctions targeting Russian entities and the flow of goods to and from the warring country. Those have includedefforts to limitits revenue from key exports like fuel, as well as itsaccess to technologiesand goods with military applications.

The sanctions have caused a sweeping shift in who Russia trades with — and China has emerged as a key economic lifeline.The two countries last yearracked up $240 billion in bilateral trade, hitting atargetto exceed $200 billion in two-way trade by 2024 ahead of schedule — a featlauded by both Putin and Xi.

Read more about Putin's meeting with Xi.