February 24, 2023 - It's now one year since Russia's invasion of Ukraine began

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that he would like to hold a bilateral meeting with Chinese leader Xi Jinping.

When asked at a Kyiv news conference how he plans to bring the countries that are geopolitically removed from Ukraine to his side, Zelensky said that he plans to meet with Xi.

"I believe that would be beneficial for both our states and for the security in the world, he said, adding that "China and Ukraine have a lot of trade turnover." 

China has given no indication that a meeting between Xi and Zelensky is possible. 

The president also said that it is necessary to respect international law and the United Nations Charter, and if China agrees with this, then it means it supports the "peace formula" put forward by Ukraine, which calls on Russia to leave every part of what is internationally recognized as Ukrainian territory.  

Zelensky earlier said "we need to work with China" if the country can respect international law and territorial integrity. On Friday, China said it is willing to play a constructive role in resolving issues between Ukraine and Russia.

New paper, old message: In a new document addressing the war in Ukraine, China’s Foreign Ministry on Friday called for a resumption of peace talks, an end to unilateral sanctions, and stressed its opposition to the use of nuclear weapons — a stance Xi communicated to Western leaders last year.

The 12-point paper is part of Beijing’s latest efforts to present itself as a neutral peace broker. Beijing’s claim to neutrality has been severely undermined by its refusal to acknowledge the nature of the conflict — it has so far avoided calling it an “invasion” — and its diplomatic and economic support for Moscow.

Russia's Foreign Ministry voiced appreciation Friday for the Chinese peace proposal on Ukraine, saying Moscow is open to achieving the goals of its so-called "special military operation" through political and diplomatic means.

In the newly released position paper, China’s Foreign Ministry called for a resumption of peace talks and an end to unilateral sanctions, and stressed its opposition to the use of nuclear weapons.

"We share Beijing's views," Russia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement. It went on to call Kyiv's "documented refusal" to negotiate the "main obstacle" to a peaceful settlement.

China's 12-point proposal has been met with skepticism by Ukraine's allies because of its refusal to acknowledge the nature of the conflict – it has so far avoided calling it an “invasion” – and its diplomatic and economic support for Moscow.

But Russia praised "the sincere desire" of China to contribute to the settlement of the conflict in Ukraine by peaceful means. And it said that Moscow shares concerns with its Chinese colleagues about "unfair competition and economic warfare" being leveled against Russia.

The Russian statement said the prospect of peace would rest, in part, on the cessation of Western weapons flowing into Ukraine, and "on the recognition of new territorial realities," in an apparent allusion to Russia's annexation of four Ukrainian territories in defiance of international law.

What China's proposal says: In its newly released plan, China reiterates calls for a political settlement to the Ukraine conflict, even as it faces increasing pressure from the United States and its allies over its growing partnership with Moscow.

“Conflict and war benefit no one. All parties must stay rational and exercise restraint, avoid fanning the flames and aggravating tensions, and prevent the crisis from deteriorating further or even spiraling out of control,” the paper reads.

“Dialogue and negotiation are the only viable solution to the Ukraine crisis,” the authors said, adding that China will play a “constructive role."

“The security of a region should not be achieved by strengthening or expanding military blocs. The legitimate security interests and concerns of all countries must be taken seriously and addressed properly,” the paper added.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Friday a personal question about how he and his family are coping with the reality of war was "the hardest" of all the questions he was asked during a press conference on Friday.  

The question about Zelensky's family was the last question at the press conference. 

"The final question is the hardest," he said. "I love them, of course. I love my wife, my children, they are the main people for me."

"I don't see them often. My parents — I don't see them at all," he said, adding "they are all in my heart."

Zelensky added he is "incredibly lucky" with his family and his country. 

More than 9 million Ukrainian refugees — mostly women and children — crossed over to Poland, according Polish Consular General Adrian Kubicki, who told CNN that some decided to go back to Ukraine, some go back and forth, and some continued on to other countries.

Kubicki said that Poland demonstrated a new model of refugee assistance as it never put people fleeing their homeland in refugee camps. Instead, they are given a PESEL, which is the equivalent of an American social security number, so they could receive resources similar to the ones available to Polish citizens, he told CNN.

Ukrainian refugees would also have access to free education for their children and legal employment. People with disabilities would receive a per diem.

"We will provide it for as long as it needs to be provided," he said, noting that there is no expiration date set for this provision.

Poland is also the hub for many non-profit organizations that wish to help Ukrainian refugees flee to Poland or relocate to other countries, he said.

One of the organizations helping refugees is the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC). It has been in the area since before the war, but CEO Ariel Zwang says the resources channeled in the country have greatly increased since the invasion began.

The organization's total Ukraine-related budget expanded from $63.3 million to $113 million — a 78% increase. This includes the care for Ukrainian refugees outside the country, it told CNN.

They provide impacted Jewish Ukrainians with information, assistance and evacuation abilities.

"Internally displaced people stay in JDC hotels and receive trauma therapy," Zwang said, who gave the example of an elderly woman who she met in western Ukraine after being evacuated from eastern Ukraine.

"JDC reached out to her early in the war asking if she wants to relocate [to another country], and she said, 'no, I don’t know if my homecare will continue, I don’t know anybody there,'" Zwang recounted. "But when a JDC Hesed [community center] called again, asking if she wanted to evacuate to another location within Ukraine, she agreed. So we sent her a car so she could get to a bus at 7 a .m. (local time) to evacuate."

While stopping in the city of Dnipro for a few days, the woman heard thunderstorms and thought it was shelling. Zwang said that the woman was traumatized, and said, "My god, they have found me here too.”

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Russia will continue to try to destabilize Moldova, and that Moscow's attempts should be stopped with "more weapons" and "more sanctions."

Zelensky's comments came after Russia sought to flip the narrative Friday, claiming Kyiv was the government provoking tensions in the nation on its southern border, not Moscow. The Ukrainian president responded during an address marking one year of Russia's full-scale invasion.

Zelensky said his government respects the territorial integrity of Moldova, and that Transnistria — a sliver of land where Russia has inserted a so-called peacekeeping force to back pro-Moscow separatists — is included in that rightful Moldovan territory.

Zelensky said Russia is carrying out a "hybrid war and information war" in Moldova.

"Putin needs to show successes and victories. But there will be no victory on the battlefield in Ukraine. Therefore, he can go looking for success where there are weak points," he said.

"I think it's important to stop these attempts with more weapons, more sanctions, the appropriate steps," he added.

More background: Officials in Moldova and in several Western governments have expressed concern in recent weeks that Moscow is mirroring some of the steps it used as a pretext for invasions in Georgia and Ukraine.

Moldovan President Maia Sandu has warned of an alleged Russian plot to destabilize her government, and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken voiced "deep concern" about the prospect of Moscow meddling with the tiny country.

Russia has leveled its own accusations at Ukraine, warning against NATO or Kyiv taking "adventurous steps"in Transnistria, and claiming that an attack on Moscow's compatriots in the territory would be considered an attack on Russia itself.

A spokesperson for Ukraine's State Border Service responded to Russia's comments Friday, saying the Ukrainian military and National Guard have taken “increased measures on the border with Transnistria" but solely "to prevent any provocations from the other side.”

CNN's Katharina Krebs contributed to this report.

One year ago today, Russia invaded Ukraine and the world hasn’t been the same since.

CNN 5 Things podcast takes a deep dive into the conflict in today's special episode.

Listen here to learn how Ukraine has defied the odds, why Russia did this in the first place, and what lies ahead.

In the northeastern Ukrainian city of Izium, "everything was destroyed” while it was in Russian control for six months, 44-year-old Julia told CNN on the one-year anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

While the city has been back in Ukrainian hands since September 2022, the scars of war remain. 

Eighty-year-old Galina picked up supplies while she waited for subsidies.

"I'm going to all the authorities, I can't get it,” she said. “I've been here all the time. The windows are beaten up. … I had to buy glass with my own money."

Nastya, 27, said she and her daughter hope they do not to live under occupation again. She dreams of peace, for everything to be rebuilt, and for kindergartens and schools to run normally.

On the road into Izium, a CNN team passed through the obliterated town of Kamyanka. Once the scene of fierce fighting, it is now deserted, with every home and building shattered. Only a lone unmarked police car pulled over to enquire about CNN's presence. The ground was pockmarked with holes, sometimes craters. Trees stood scorched and splintered — a bleak picture of a fate Izium escaped.

Izium local Lilia, 52, said she does not know what the next year will bring, but she prays that “God grant us not to be touched.”

A group of Ukrainian companies showcased a guided missile system at the largest defense exhibit in the Middle East in Abu Dhabi, where companies from around the world present their latest weaponry. 

The missile system was allegedly used to destroy Russian tanks this year.

Ukrainians said that while they were not at the exhibit to sell their products, their representation at the conference was important to show Middle East customers that one year since the invasion, they’re “still alive”.

“We are here to remind our former main customers in the Middle East that we are still alive … we are still strong,” said Oleg Babenko, a representative for one of the Ukrainian weapons manufacturers.

Babenko told CNN that the group wasn't concerned that eight Russian arms manufacturing firms were also exhibiting at the fair. “[The Russians] know our anti-tank guided missiles very well.”

He spoke from the booth of the National Association of Ukrainian Defense Industries (NAUDI). Meanwhile, CNN approached delegations from three different Russian firms, as well as an organizer of the Russian pavilion, but all refused to speak.

Rosoboronexport, a firm that makes drones and missiles, however, said in a press release last week that it is “busy working out proposals for the forms of partnership that could be of immediate interest to Middle East nations.” 

Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine one year ago, the US Justice Department has seized more than $500 million in yachts, properties and other assets from people who support the Russian government and have evaded US sanctions, according to a department news release.

The Justice Department’s Task Force KleptoCapture — made up of federal prosecutors, investigators, and analysts — has targeted the web of wealth surrounding Russian oligarchs and Kremlin insiders. 

As part of that effort, the Justice Department announced a civil forfeiture complaint on Friday for $75 million in property owned by the sanctioned Russian oligarch Viktor Vekselberg. An associate of Vekselberg who allegedly helped the oligarch buy multimillion dollar properties in Manhattan, the Hamptons and Florida was indicted earlier this month for allegedly violating US sanctions and international money laundering. The Justice Department previously seized Vekselberg’s $90 million luxury yacht dubbed “Tango.”

In total, the department has seized two mega-yachts, moved to seize four airplanes, and has restrained and moved to forfeit 10 properties from Russian oligarchs and agents, according to department statistics.

Their work has also resulted in over 30 indictments against sanctioned supporters of the Kremlin and Russian military. There have been some arrests, but many of these defendants live in Russia and are unlikely to ever be apprehended or extradited.

On Friday, prosecutors unsealed a new indictment charging a Russian national with providing US communications equipment to the Russian Federal Security Service – the successor to the Soviet Union’s KGB — in violation of US sanctions. According to the indictment, Moscow resident Ilya Balakaev, 47, repeatedly traveled to the United States to purchase electronic equipment parts and bring them back to Russia. Balakaev allegedly set up a network of people within the US to help him buy the parts, which were not available in Russia, to fix equipment used for sweeping for surveillance bugs and to transmitting covert communications.