Negotiators from Russia and Ukraine held further talks today by video link amid cautious hints of progress from both sides even as fighting continued, with officials in Ukraine reporting that overnight shelling killed two people in a residential building in northern Kyiv. In Rome, the U.S. and China began their first high-level, in-person discussions since Moscow’s invasion. Beijing earlier rejected U.S. reports that Russia had sought its military assistance for the invasion of Ukraine as “disinformation.” The Kremlin also denied the claim. (https://www.bloomberg.com/news/newsletters/2022-03-14/russia-invades-ukraine-what-you-need-to-know-03-14-2022) Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said today that President Vladimir Putin initially ordered troops to avoid direct attacks on major cities in Ukraine, and he said the military may take full control of the key urban centers that are now surrounded. Ukrainian and Western officials have accused Moscow of targeting civilians and indiscriminately bombarding cities, allegations Russia denies.