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Russia has intensified its offensive in northeastern Ukraine to break through its heavily fortified defence and recapture the Kupiansk-Lyman area. The Russian Army is preparing for “serious offensive actions” and sending more staff in Kupiansk-Lyman, commander of the Ukrainian ground forces Oleksandr Syrskyi said. The fighting had "significantly escalated", he said, adding, "The main goal is to break through our troops’ defences and recapture our territory". But Ukraine’s eastern forces said president Volodymyr Zelensky’s forces were putting up a tough fight from well-entrenched troops, forcing Russian soldiers to retreat. “Our fortifications there are quite reliable. We have a powerful, dug-in position,” Ilia Yevlash, spokesperson for Ukraine’s forces in the east, told Ukrainian television. “So the enemy got it right in the teeth and retreated in order to regroup.” Russia captured the northeastern towns near Ukraine’s second-largest city of Kharkiv when the invasion began but Ukrainian forces recaptured the areas last year, evicting invading forces from some parts of the country’s Donbas industrial heartland. Its recapturing marked a significant step in the Ukrainian offensive to defend its territories. The Russian defence ministry acknowledged that it launched an “intense military activity” in the area and repelled 10 Ukrainian attacks in the Kupiansk area and two more in adjacent Lyman. In June, Ukraine initiated a counteroffensive with the primary objective of reclaiming territory in the eastern region, notably in the vicinity of Bakhmut, which had fallen under Russian control in May. Their strategy also involved advancing southward toward the Sea of Azov. The Ukrainian military primarily achieved gradual progress, disregarding criticism from certain Western observers who contended that the offensive was proceeding too slowly. Over the past week, the focus on the eastern front has shifted from Bakhmut to Avdiivka, a town located further southwest renowned for its substantial coking plant. The leading local authority in Avdiivka said there was a temporary calm in the city but they anticipated a forthcoming assault. “Shelling has diminished, there was less today,” Vitaliy Barabash, head of Avdiivka’s military administration, told national television, while noting that two people were killed in a nearby village. “We expect there will be new waves of heavy attacks in the days to come.” Read More Ukraine-Russia war – live: Putin suffers serious losses in largest offensive in months Sushi standoff spreads as Russia joins China in banning Japanese seafood Russian governor reported to police for speaking out over Putin’s ‘unnecessary’ war against Ukraine The Body in the Woods | An Independent TV Original Documentary The harrowing discovery at centre of The Independent’s new documentary

US secretary of state Antony Blinken has arrived in Beijing in the highest level visit between the two countries in years, amid heightened tensions that have kept the world on edge. Mr Blinken is the highest-level US official to visit China in since Joe Biden took office and first US secretary of state to do so in five years, as he is tasked to open communication with Beijing on an array of highly crucial issues like trade with Taiwan, Chinese surveillance and the Ukraine war. The US secretary of state arrived in Beijing on Sunday morning for the two-day, visit where he is set to meet senior Chinese officials. He will be meeting Chinese foreign minister Qin Gang, top diplomat Wang Yi, and possibly president Xi Jinping on Monday, according to US officials. Mr Biden and Mr Xi agreed to Mr Blinken‘s trip early at a meeting last year in Bali. The discussions are expected to cover a wide range of contentious issues that have strained bilateral ties and have significant implications for global security and stability. Among the topics on the agenda are trade relations with Taiwan, human rights concerns in China, the situation in Hong Kong, Chinese military assertiveness in the South China Sea, and Russia’s actions in Ukraine. US officials have said on Friday before Mr Blinken’s visit that would raise each one of these concerns. However, chances of a breakthrough remain slim as both sides have not shown any flexibility on changing their stands. But there have been hints about reducing tensions from both sides. In a meeting with Microsoft Corporation co-founder Bill Gates on Friday, Mr Xi said the US and China can cooperate to “benefit our two countries”. “I believe that the foundation of Sino-US relations lies in the people,” Mr Xi said to Mr Gates. “Under the current world situation, we can carry out various activities that benefit our two countries, the people of our countries, and the entire human race.” China also hosted Elon Musk recently in what was seen as a bid by China to improve business relations with the US. Mr Biden told White House reporters on Saturday he was “hoping that over the next several months, I’ll be meeting with Xi again and talking about legitimate differences we have, but also how ... to get along”. The two leaders are likely to attend the next G20 summit, in September in New Delhi, and Mr Xi has been also invited to attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) grouping in San Francisco this year. Ahead of the visit, Mr Blinken emphasised the importance of the US and China establishing and maintaining better lines of communication. The US wants to make sure “that the competition we have with China doesn’t veer into conflict” due to avoidable misunderstandings, he told reporters. Mr Biden and Mr Xi had made commitments to improve communications “precisely so that we can make sure we are communicating as clearly as possible to avoid possible misunderstandings and miscommunications,” Mr Blinken said on Friday. The much-anticipated trip comes after a series of hiccups and delays. The trip was initially planned for February but faced delays due to escalated tensions between the US and China over the surveillance balloons. Additional reporting by agencies Read More Biden calls spy balloon ‘embarrassing’ for China ahead of Blinken talks in Beijing China calls hacking report 'far-fetched' and accuses the US of targeting the cybersecurity industry Biden criticised for suggesting bridge ‘across the Indian Ocean’ China condemns EU Parliament's resolution on Hong Kong's shrinking freedoms Taiwanese foreign minister asks for support from European countries to maintain peace, stability China's foreign minister airs concerns in phone call with Blinken ahead of planned visit

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By Andrew Gray, Gabriela Baczynska and Belén Carreño GRANADA, Spain (Reuters) -Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy warned European leaders on Thursday