<div style="text-align: justify; "><span style="font-size: 1rem;"><b>The situation in the city of Bakhmut, on the eastern frontline, is becoming "more and more difficult", Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky has said.</b></span><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Russian forces have been trying to take the city for over six months.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">"The enemy is constantly destroying everything that can be used to protect our positions", Mr Zelensky stated.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The Ukrainian leader's remarks came as US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen warned China against arming Russia during a visit to Kyiv on Monday.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Some of the fiercest fighting to take place since Russia invaded Ukraine just over a year ago has taken place in Bakhmut, in Ukraine's Donetsk region, part of which is under the control of Russia and its separatist allies.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Recently efforts by Russian forces to capture the industrial city have intensified, with its troops gaining ground.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The separatist leader of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic, Denis Pushilin, said "practically all roads" into the city were "under [Russian] fire control".</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Speaking about the situation in his nightly address, President Zelensky said managing to gain a foothold in Bakhmut and ensuring its defence were being heavily compromised by Russia's renewed onslaught.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">He was "grateful to each and every person who is heroically holding" the area.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">President Zelensky also called once again for modern combat aircraft to be sent so that "the entire territory of our country" can be defended from "Russian terror".</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">On her surprise visit to Kyiv on Monday, Janet Yellen announced the latest transfer of $1.25bn (£1bn) in economic and budget aid to Ukraine.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Ms Yellen reiterated US President Joe Biden's message - made during his own visit to Kyiv last week - that Washington would stand with Ukraine for as long as it took to win the war.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Speaking to CNN, Ms Yellen added that while Russia's economy had not yet buckled under the vast sanctions imposed on Russia by Western powers, she expected it to grow weaker over time.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">She also stated that Russia's ability to replenish military equipment destroyed in attacks on Ukraine was being "gradually jeopardized", adding that any move from China to supply such weaponry to Russia would lead to "severe" consequences.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">"We have been extremely clear that we will not tolerate systematic violations by any country of the sanctions that we have put in place that are intended to deprive Russia of access to military equipment to wage this war," she said.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">"And we have been very clear with the Chinese government and have made clear to Chinese firms and financial institutions that the consequences of violating those sanctions would be very severe."</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Last week US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said China was considering supplying weapons and ammunition to Russia. Beijing strongly denied the claim.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">A meeting between China's top diplomat, Wang Yi, and Russia's President Vladimir Putin in Moscow last week looked to many to be an indication of China's close ties with Russia. BBC</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify; ">bnbd24/kh</div>