An aerial view of Bakhmut, the positioning of heavy battles with Russian troops within the Donetsk area, Ukraine, Sunday.

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Libkos/AP

An aerial view of Bakhmut, the positioning of heavy battles with Russian troops within the Donetsk area, Ukraine, Sunday.

Libkos/AP

Here’s a glance forward and a roundup of key developments from the previous week.

What to look at

The United Nations Security Council is because of convene for an emergency assembly, called by Ukraine, after Russian President Vladimir Putin revealed plans to put tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus.

Russia takes over the U.N. Security Council’s rotating presidency in April.

The United States hosts the Summit for Democracy this week, together with a virtual gathering that includes Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Hungary’s parliament has just ratified Finland’s application to affix NATO. Now that leaves Turkey, whose president mentioned it might begin the method to ratify Finland’s bid. But each NATO members have left Sweden’s software nonetheless pending.

The director common of the International Atomic Energy Agency, Rafael Mariano Grossi, plans to go to the Zaporizhzhia nuclear energy plant in southern Ukraine to assess the security situation at Europe’s largest nuclear station.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov holds talks with his Iranian counterpart Hossein Amirabdollahian on Wednesday. Lavrov can be attributable to speak with the overseas minister of one other of Russia’s associates, Nicaragua, on Thursday.

Ukraine has been pushing for cellphone talks with Chinese chief Xi Jinping, who met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow final week.

What occurred final week

China’s Xi paid a three-day visit to Russia. Putin mentioned the Chinese authorities’s peace plan may type the “basis” of an eventual deal “when the West and Ukraine are ready.”

Putin introduced plans to station tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus, a Kremlin-ally wedged between the 2 warring international locations that has served as a launch pad for Russian assaults on Ukraine.

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida made a surprise visit to Ukraine, hours after Xi arrived in Russia.

International Monetary Fund staff agreed with Ukraine on a $15.6 billion financing package deal. If the IMF’s board indicators off, it might be Ukraine’s biggest loan since Russia invaded a yr in the past.

Russian drone strikes hit the Kyiv region, together with an academic facility, killing a minimum of 4 folks and injuring 20. Russia later struck a humanitarian support center in Kostiantynivka, killing a minimum of three displaced ladies.

Ukraine mentioned Russian cruise missiles had been destroyed in a strike in Crimea, however didn’t declare accountability for the assault. The Russian-installed head of the town of Dzhankoi reported drone assaults there.

The scenario in Bakhmut may very well be turning into stabilized, Ukrainian military chief Gen. Valery Zaluzhny said on the Telegram social app, talking a couple of metropolis Russia has fought to take management of for months because it tries to seize the entire of japanese Ukraine’s Donbas area.

In-depth

The leaders of China and Russia have completed talks. Here are some takeaways.

A scrappy newscast in Kyiv geared toward Russians counters Putin’s propaganda machine.

On the border with Belarus, Ukrainian troops prep for a long war — and the front line.

The IMF’s $15.6 billion mortgage to Ukraine will probably be its first to a country at war.

Russian drone strikes in Ukraine kill a minimum of 4, wound one other 20.

A shrinking reservoir alerts Ukraine and Russia are waging a dangerous water war.

China sees itself as a mediator within the Russia-Ukraine conflict, but many nations disagree.

Special report

Russia’s conflict in Ukraine is altering the world: See our updated report on its ripple effects in all corners of the globe.

Earlier developments

You can learn past recaps here. For context and extra in-depth tales, you could find extra of NPR’s coverage here. Also, pay attention and subscribe to NPR’s State of Ukraine podcast for updates all through the day.