From March 20 to March 22, China’s president, Xi Jinping, made a visit to Moscow. “The United States and its allies [have warned] that China is considering sending lethal aid to Russia for its war effort, which Beijing has denied,” CNN reported. 

China is trying to obtain a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine, but U.S. officials are skeptical of this plan for peace. The U.S. is worried that if a cease-fire was called before Russia left Ukraine, Russia could possibly go back on that cease-fire when Ukraine was unprepared. The cease-fire could also be beneficial for Russian troops’ recuperation. 

Putin said that he would consider a plan for peace when Ukraine and the West are ready to negotiate, but Ukraine is not willing to negotiate until Russia leaves its territory. Another worry of negotiating with Russia is that Ukraine could possibly lose some of its territory in a negotiation deal. 

Overall, China’s possible alliance with Russia is very worrying to Ukraine and the West. There is even a picture of Putin and Xi shaking hands. “The world should not be fooled by any tactical move by Russia, supported by China or any other country, to freeze the war on its own terms,” said U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

March 17, the International Criminal Court (ICC), issued an arrest warrant for Vladimir Putin and Maria Lvova-Belova. Putin is wanted for war crimes committed in Ukraine, including the deportation of Ukrainian children to Russia. 

So far, over 16,000 children have been deported to Russia from Ukraine. These children are being placed in foster families in Russia and are being taught Russian ideals. Lvova-Belova is Russia’s Commissioner for Children’s Rights, though the West found that she is a main figure involved in the forced deportation of Ukrainian children.

March 14, a Russian fighter jet caused a U.S. MQ-9 drone to crash into the Black Sea. The U.S. drone was conducting routine operations when it came into contact with two Russian fighter jets. One of the jets dumped fuel onto the drone, before hitting the drone’s propeller. The U.S. was forced to land the drone in the Black Sea, and it was then lost. 

The two Russian fighter pilots have been awarded by the Russia’s Defense Ministry for trying to take down the drone. According to The Guardian, the U.S. has not recovered the drone since it is too difficult to retrieve, and they don’t believe that the drone is of “intelligence value.” Russia is still trying to recover it. This has been the first interaction between Russian and U.S. aircraft since the start of the Russia-Ukraine war. There is now video footage of the incident that was released to the public from the U.S. military.