Cremina: President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that the outcome of fighting with Russia in and around Bakhmut, where both sides have described arduous battles as Moscow steps up a winter campaign to seize the small eastern city, will determine Ukraine's future.

The International Criminal Court (ICC) is anticipated to seek the arrest of Russian officials for forcibly deporting children from Ukraine and targeting civilian infrastructure in what would be the first international war crimes cases resulting from Russia's invasion, a source told Reuters.

Moscow would undoubtedly deny any warrants for its officials' arrest. However, a global war crimes investigation could exacerbate Moscow's diplomatic isolation over a campaign that has resulted in the deadliest fighting in Europe since World War Two and killed thousands of civilians.

Also Read: Biden says he anticipates speaking with Xi soon after announcing a submarine deal to confront China

After months of bloody infantry battles costing significant amounts of life on both sides, Bakhmut has emerged as the main target of Russia's assault. Wagner's private army-led Russian forces have taken control of the city's east but have not yet succeeded in encircling it.

In a late-night video address, Zelensky stated that Bakhmut and other war-torn areas in the eastern Donetsk region of the country would determine the future of Ukraine.

The east is very painful and difficult. We must negate the military might of the adversary. And we'll take it out," Zelensky declared.

Also Read: In his conversation with Orban, Macron promotes "unity" in Europe

According to Russia, seizing Bakhmut would pave the way for seizing all of Donetsk, a key war objective. The Russian assault force is suffering significant losses, according to the Ukrainian military, which will make it easier to mount a counterattack later this year. As a result, the Ukrainian military claims it has not left Bakhmut.

Ukrainian soldiers said on Monday that they were repelling stepped-up attacks near Kreminna, to the north of Bakhmut. Cannons boomed in a forest about 8 km (5 miles) from the front, aiming at enemy positions to the northeast. Continuous explosions in the distance signalled intense fighting.

A soldier being brought from the front with a seriously injured leg was seen by Reuters reporters. He was first given painkillers and a splint to stabilise him in a van before being driven to a hospital farther from the front.

The fighting was at its worst two or three weeks ago, but now it has subsided somewhat, according to medic Mykhailo Anest, 35. It's a lot of work, but it's worth it.

By targeting civilians and civilian infrastructure during its more than a year-long invasion, Russia is accused by Ukraine and its allies in the West of committing "crimes against humanity," a claim Moscow denies.

In the near future, according to a source with knowledge of the situation, the ICC, which launched an investigation into potential war crimes in Ukraine last year, is anticipated to seek its first arrest warrants against Russian government representatives in connection with the conflict.

The source said that the warrants could include the crime of genocide, though it was unclear which Russian officials the prosecutor might seek them against or when they might arrive.

The office of the ICC prosecutor declined to comment. An enquiry for comment was not immediately answered by the Russian defence ministry. The ICC has no jurisdiction over Russia, according to Konstantin Kosachyov, deputy speaker of Russia's upper house of parliament, since Moscow withdrew its support in 2016. In the hands of the West, the ICC is a tool of neo-colonialism, he claimed.

Russia disputes allegations that it attacked Ukraine's civilian infrastructure on purpose and asserts that all of its actions were taken to weaken Kiev's fighting capacity. While presenting it as a humanitarian effort to protect orphans and abandoned children in the conflict zone, it has not concealed a programme under which it has taken thousands of Ukrainian children to Russia.

According to Kyiv, thousands of deported Ukrainian children are being adopted by Russian families, living in Russian orphanages and camps, receiving Russian passports, and being raised to disdain their native country.

"Forcibly transferring children of the group to another group" is one of five acts that can be charged as genocide under the UN genocide convention.

While the fighting in Bakhmut continues, Moscow seemed to be close to making a long-awaited diplomatic breakthrough: Reuters was informed by multiple sources that Chinese President Xi Jinping might visit Russia as early as next week.

Inquiries for comment were not answered by the Chinese foreign ministry. According to the Kremlin, there is currently nothing to report.

Such a visit has been hailed by President Vladimir Putin as a show of support, but it may be overshadowed by the prospect of Xi speaking to Zelensky separately via video link for the first time since the invasion.

Also Read: US seeks new methods to hold Russian oligarchs accountable for the war

The Wall Street Journal reported on Zelensky and Xi's plans to meet. The president's office of Ukraine did not immediately respond, and Reuters was unable to immediately confirm them.