, fighting intensified in southern Ukraine as Kherson became the first city to fall into Russian hands as shelling continued in Mariupol, Chernihiv and Kharkiv. Heavy fighting is continuing on the outskirts of a strategic port city on the Azov Sea, Mariupol. The Russian military says it controls Kherson, and local Ukrainian officials have confirmed Russian forces have taken over local government headquarters in the Black Sea port of 2.8 lakh people. Also Read - Russia-Ukraine War: Why NATO Has Not Deployed Troops In Ukraine - Explained

#WATCH | PM Modi chairs a high-level meeting on the #Ukraine issue. pic.twitter.com/o80S9rcBI4

— ANI (@ANI) March 5, 2022

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrei Rudenko met with Chinese Ambassador in Moscow Zhang Hanhui on Saturday.

"The parties exchanged opinions on the situation around Ukraine. The Russian side expressed its gratitude to Chinese partners for their balanced stance on the events in this country," the Foreign Ministry said on its website.

"We reaffirmed our readiness to extend comprehensive support regarding the evacuation of Chinese citizens who are currently in zones of fighting in the territory of Ukraine," it said.

The sides also underscored the high efficiency of foreign policy interaction between Russia and China, the ministry said.

The Russian Defense Ministry said the day before that there are currently more than 7,500 foreign citizens in Ukrainian cities, including 121 Chinese citizens in the city of Sumy.