TOP HEADLINES

• China's Foreign Minister says the country will not provide weapons to parties involved in the conflict in Ukraine and will regulate the export of items with dual civilian and military use.

•Ukrainian troops have been forced to withdraw from some territory in the battlefield city of Bakhmut as Russia mounts a renewed assault there with intense artillery fire over the past two days, Britain said in an intelligence update on Friday.

•Russia says there will be no extension of the UN-brokered Black Sea grain deal beyond May 18 unless the West removes a series of obstacles to the export of Russian grain and fertilizer.

•Hungary abandoned a Budapest-based Russian bank this week because U.S. sanctions had "ruined" it, Prime Minister Viktor Orban said on Friday, adding that Hungary would comply with sanctions on Russia but continue to speak out against them.

IN DETAIL

China's Foreign Minister on Friday said the country would not provide weapons to parties involved in the conflict in Ukraine and would regulate the export of items with dual civilian and military use.

Qin Gang was responding to concerns from the U.S. and others that China was considering providing military assistance to Russia.

Qin reiterated China's willingness to help facilitate negotiations to find a peaceful resolution to the conflict and said all parties should remain "objective and calm."

"Regarding the export of military items, China adopts a prudent and responsible attitude," Qin said.

"China will not provide weapons to relevant parties of the conflict, and manage and control the exports of dual-use items in accordance with laws and regulations," he added.

Qin was speaking at a news conference with his visiting German counterpart Annalena Baerbock.

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Cover image: Kai Pfaffenbach/Reuters