World powers should help Russia, Ukraine resume dialogue: Xi Jinping

Beijing: At a meeting with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbá, Chinese President Xi Jinping urged world powers to help Russia and Ukraine restart direct dialogue and negotiations, the Associated Press reported, citing Chinese state broadcaster CCTV.

Orbán made a surprise visit to China after similar trips last week to Russia and Ukraine to discuss prospects for a peaceful settlement in Ukraine.

Orbán praised China's "constructive and important initiatives" for achieving peace and described Beijing as a stabilizing force amid global turbulence, according to CCTV.

Meanwhile, Russian forces launched multiple ballistic and cruise missiles against Ukrainian targets on Monday, Ukraine's air force said, with explosions felt and heard across the capital, Kyiv. Officials say a Russian missile attack on the central Ukrainian city of Kryvyi Rih has killed 10 people and injured 31, reports AP

The daylight attack included Kinzhal hypersonic missiles, one of the most advanced Russian weapons, the air force said. The Kinzhal flies at 10 times the speed of sound, making it hard to intercept.

The Kyiv city administration reported falling debris, presumably from intercepted missiles, in the Solomianskyi, Dniprovskyi, and Holosiivskyi districts of Kyiv, starting fires. Smoke rose from several Kyiv neighbourhoods.

There were no immediate details of casualties and damage.

Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said ambulances were heading to the Solomianskyi district.

Explosions were also reported by local officials in Ukraine's central Dnipropetrovsk region.

On Saturday, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that Russian President Vladimir Putin invited Prime Minister Narendra Modi for a "very important and full-fledged visit". The meeting taking place from July 8 to 9 to hold the 22nd India-Russia Annual Summit is crucial for Russia-Indian relations, Dmitry Peskov added. Last week, External Affairs Minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar pressed for the safe and expeditious return of Indian nationals currently in the war zone in Ukraine during his meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.