(Reuters] – China was warned by the United States not to give military or financial support to Moscow in response to its invasion Ukraine. The sanctions on Russian politicians and businessmen increased, and civilians tried to flee from intense fighting.

On Tuesday, Russian and Ukrainian negotiators are expected to continue talks in order to end the crisis.

FIGHTING

* Ukrainian media report two powerful explosions in the capital Kiev on Tuesday. Everyday, sirens for air raids sound across Ukraine.

* Ukraine reported more air strikes on an airport in the west, heavy shelling on Chernihiv northeast of Kyiv and attacks on the southern town of Mykolayiv. According to an Interior Ministry official, Ukraine counterattacked in Mykolayiv as well as the Eastern Kharkiv Region.

DIPLOMACY

* A Ukrainian negotiator said a fifth round of talks with Russia would resume on Tuesday.

* The Kremlin denied U.S. officials’ reports that Russia asked China for military equipment after invading Ukraine. Beijing called the reported “disinformation”.* U.S. national security adviser Jake Sullivan raised concerns about China’s alignment with Russia in a seven-hour meeting with top Chinese diplomat Yang Jiechi in Rome.

* Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke again with Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett about the conflict.

CIVILIAN TOLL

* Mariupol City Council Telegram post early on Tuesday said the number of people killed in the beseiged port city as of March 14 stood at approximately 2,357 people. This report was not verified independently by Reuters.

* At least one person was killed when an apartment block in Kyiv was hit by a Russian shell and a second person was killed by falling debris after a missile strike on another part of the Ukrainian capital, local authorities said.

* Russia said 20 civilians were killed and 28 wounded by an Ukrainian missile in the eastern city of Donetsk controlled by pro-Russian separatists. The Ukrainian government denied this report, and Reuters couldn’t independently verify it.

EVACUATIONS

* Ukraine’s deputy prime minister said more than 4,000 people were evacuated from front-line cities.

* About 2.8 million people have fled Ukraine, according to the latest tally from the UN refugee agency.

SANCTIONS* European Union member states agreed on a fourth package of sanctions against Russia, the office of the French EU presidency wrote. Diplomats stated that sanctions would be applied to Russian steel and iron. It also included an exclusion on the sale of luxury goods, as well as a prohibition on investments in the sector.

MARKETS

* Asian stocks and oil prices fell on Tuesday as sentiment remained fragile. Most major U.S. stocks closed lower. [MKTS/GLOB]

SPEAK UP

* Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy will virtually address the U.S. Congress at 9 a.m (1300 GMT) on Wednesday