Russia claims full control of Kupyansk as Ukraine reports continued fighting

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Russia claims full control of Kupyansk as Ukraine reports continued fighting

2026-01-18 02:20 Last Updated At：01-20 00:01

Russia claimed full control of Kupyansk on Friday, while Ukraine reported ongoing Russian attacks in the Kupyansk direction.

According to Russian media reports, Sergey Kuzovlev, commander of the Moscow Military District, on Friday briefed Russian Defense Minister Andrei Belousov, saying that Ukrainian forces had repeatedly attempted to break into Kupyansk but failed. He claimed that all areas of Kupyansk are now under Russian control.

Ukraine said the same day that Russian forces launched six attacks in the Kupyansk direction.

Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov on Friday welcomed the signals from Italy, France, and Germany regarding the need for dialogue with Russia, TASS reported.

Peskov said this aligned with Russia's position and called it a "positive development" in the stance of European countries -- if it truly reflects their strategic vision. However, he noted that no European country has formally requested contact with Russia so far.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Saturday that the Ukrainian delegation had arrived in the U.S. that day.

The main task of the delegation is "to present the full and accurate picture of what Russian strikes are causing," he said on X.

Ukrainian and U.S. teams will hold another round of negotiations on Saturday in Miami. The delegations are expected to refine agreements on security guarantees and Ukraine's economic recovery, which could be signed at the World Economic Forum in Davos next week.

Ukraine has never been and will never be a roadblock to peace, and it is now up to our partners to determine whether diplomacy moves forward, Zelensky said on X.

In another X post on Saturday, the Ukrainian president said he held a special energy coordination call to address the aftermath of Russian strikes. Energy facility restoration efforts are underway across the entire country, he said, adding that the most difficult situation is in Kiev and the region, Kharkiv and the region, and Zaporizhzhia and the region. Zelensky instructed that a separate review be conducted in Kiev regarding buildings that remain without heating. He also emphasized the need to "accelerate as much as possible the increase in electricity imports and the provision of additional equipment from partners."

He also said that he had issued special instructions to Ukraine's defense minister regarding air force operations and air defense.

15th Five-Year Plan to guide China's development, benefit world: scholars

China's 15th Five-Year Plan proposal sends a strong signal of the country's commitment to upholding openness and cooperation, which will promote further development for the country and the world, said officials and scholars around the world.

The draft 15th Five-Year Plan, the blueprint that will guide the world's second-largest economy from 2026 to 2030, is central to steer China to move toward modernization amid technological disruption, demographic shifts and an increasingly fractured global order, according to the scholars.

"China's 15th Five-Year Plan is not a rigid model; it is more like benchmarks for growth targets and focal points. Chinese economists and economic decision-makers are not just focusing on qualitative growth, but also on innovative development. We're witnessing new transportation methods, robotics and artificial intelligence," said Andrey Denisov, first deputy chair of Russia's Federation Council Committee on Foreign Affairs and former Russian Ambassador to China.

"The 15th Five-Year Plan is of great importance to China's development. The country is poised to make remarkable advancements in various sectors, including artificial intelligence, high-end manufacturing and infrastructure construction. Given the shifting global context and China's transition towards high-quality development, I am confident that this plan will herald a new era for China's development," said Kamel Mansari, news director of the French-language daily Le Jeune Independent.

Scholars also noted that China's commitment to high-quality development and high-level opening-up will promote win-win results and benefit the world.

"China has emerged as a key partner for most countries worldwide, and a preferred partner due to its closeness and integration with global communities, as well as its strong humanitarian perspective. The Chinese economy has not only benefited itself; it has helped many economies worldwide flourish through its partnerships," said Dirgham Muhammad Ali, an Iraqi economic expert.

China's National People's Congress (NPC) is scheduled to open in Beijing on Wednesday, with lawmakers set to approve the 15th Five-Year Plan.