Ukraine war latest: 'We will defend our fatherland', Putin tells Moscow crowds; MoD says Russian commanders probably ordered to shoot deserters

Putin again claims confrontation with Ukraine 'Nazis' was inevitable, as he marks National Unity day in Moscow; analysts warn Russia may be trying to 'lull' Ukrainian troops near Kherson into a false sense of security. 

Xi Jinping calls for Ukraine peace talks as German chancellor visits Beijing

Now more on the German chancellor's visit to China to meet president Xi Jinping…

Mr Xi has called for peace talks between Russia and Ukraine and warned against the conflict going nuclear at a meeting with Olaf Scholz.

Germany's leader is in Beijing for a one-day visit that has drawn criticism over China's tacit support for Russia.

On Ukraine, Mr Xi "pointed out that China supports Germany and the EU in playing an important role in promoting peace talks and promoting the building of a balanced, effective and sustainable European security framework", state broadcaster CCTV reported.

He added that the international community should "call on all parties concerned to exercise rationality and restraint, conduct direct contacts as soon as possible, and create conditions for the resumption of negotiations (and) jointly oppose the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons".

Without offering evidence, Russian leader Vladimir Putin has repeated Moscow's unproven allegation that Ukraine is plotting a false-flag attack involving a radioactive dirty bomb that it would try to pin on Russia.

Ukraine has strongly rejected the allegation, and its western allies have dismissed it as "transparently false".

ew footage released of NATO's annual nuclear exercise

The Western military alliance has released footage of its latest nuclear exercise over northwestern Europe. 

The practice operation involved around 60 aircraft, including fighter jets and surveillance and refuelling planes. 

In a video, it said it was a "routine, recurring training activity and it is not linked to any current world events". 

The majority of the exercises were held at least 1,000km from Russia's borders, over Belgium, the North Sea and the UK. 

NATO said the aim was to "preserve peace, deter aggression, and prevent coercion".