Russia-Ukraine war updates: Japan PM Kishida to visit Kyiv

Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida will be making an unexpected visit to Kyiv to hold talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Japan's foreign ministry said on Tuesday.

Kishida will offer "solidarity and unwavering support" to Ukraine during his visit, according to the ministry.

The Japanese PM was expected to return to Tokyo after his trip to India, but changed his plans to visit Ukraine. Broadcaster NHK showing him boarding a train at the Polish border town of Przemysl.

According to a statement released by Japan's Foreign Ministry, Kishida's visit is intended to show "his respect for courage and perseverance of the Ukrainian people standing up to defend their homeland."

Japan has joined Western allies in imposing sanctions on Russia for its invasion of Ukraine and has also offered support to Kyiv.

The nation has also taken the unusual step of sending defensive equipment and offering refuge to those fleeing the conflict.

However, due to the nation's post-war constitution limiting its military capacity to defensive measures, Japan has not provided military support.

Here are some of the other notable developments concerning the war on Tuesday, March 21:

Russia flies strategic bombers near Japan

Russia's Defense Ministry said on Tuesday that two of its strategic missile carriers made a routine flight over the Sea of Japan, as Japan's leader was due to visit Ukraine.

The Tupolev Tu-95MS planes are capable of carrying nuclear weapons and Russia regularly flies them over international waters in the Arctic, North Atlantic and Pacific as a show of strength.

The Defense Ministry said the flights were carried out over neutral waters and in compliance with international law.

Xi invites Putin to China

Chinese President Xi Jinping invited Russian President Vladimir Putin to Beijing on Tuesday, Russia's RIA news agency reported.

Xi is midway through a three-day visit to Moscow, where he had informal talks with Putin on Monday ahead of official discussions on Tuesday.

"Yesterday I invited President Putin to visit China this year at a time that is convenient for him," Xi reportedly said at a meeting with Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin on Tuesday.

Xi, Putin to meet for second day of talks

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese leader Xi Jinping will hold a second day of talks on Tuesday, with Putin expressing his willingness to discuss China's proposals on the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

The meeting followed a four-and-a-half hour long discussion on Monday, during which the leaders referred to each other as "dear friend."

In their meeting, Putin commended Beijing's 12-point position paper on the conflict, which advocates for dialogue and respect for all nations' territorial sovereignty.

He also expressed his willingness to engage in discussions on the Ukraine crisis.

Xi confirmed that China was prepared to "continue to play a constructive role in promoting the political settlement" of the crisis, according to Chinese state news agency Xinhua.

China has positioned itself as a neutral party since the invasion of Ukraine, despite concerns from the United States that its actions could be a "stalling tactic" to support Russia.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Zelenskyy has expressed his interest in holding talks with Xi, although there has been no word from Beijing regarding such a meeting.