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you re live in the cnn newsroom. i m jim acosta in washington. and we begin this hour with the war in ukraine and its global implications. the director of the cia confirms what cnn has been reporting that the u.s. is confident that china is thinking about providing lethal aid to russian troops in ukraine. the agency does not believe a final decision has been made. and today, the white house is urging caution. you know, beijing will have to make its own decisions about how it proceeds. whether tell provides military assistance. but if it goes down that road it will come at real cost to china. and i think china s leaders are weighing that as they make their decisions. but let s begin with the latest in the fighting in ukraine. alex marquardt is there for us. reporter: jim, some of heaviest fighting, with some of the worst casualty rates on both sides is now taking place around the eastern city of bakhmut. russian forces before the mercenary groups of convicts ....
Over time. but right now, the honest answer, i think, putin is quite determined. reporter: burns talk about the issue of russia and iran supplying rucheia with drones and ammunition for artillery and tanks. burns say iran is helping rush yea help with its missile program and considering sending iran fighter jets fors support. that relationship proceeding in a fast rate in a very disturbing way. jim. alex marquardt, thank you. let s go to ukraine s capital, cnn s clarissa ward is in kyiv for us. clarissa, thanks so much for being with us. what is the reaction of this possibility of china supplying weapons to russian troops. i talked to colonel vindman in the previous hour, he said this could be a claim gaininger and worrisome development. reporter: well, i think privately ukrainians are concerned about this. publicly, they re being quite careful to put a diplomatic face ....