Ukrainian forces clinging to the eastern city of Bakhmut dug new trenches in an attempt to hold back Russian attackers, as the United States said new military aid for Ukraine would be discussed at a meeting with Germany's leader on Friday.Russian forces have been attacking Bakhmut in Donetsk province for months, sometimes in waves and the site has become one of the bloodiest battles of the war.Washington will announce a new $400 million military aidpackage for the Kyiv government, and is expected to be a major topic between U.S. President Joe Biden and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz when they meet at the White House, officials said.The aid is expected to comprise mainly ammunition including Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System (GMLRS) for HIMARS launchers, ammunition for Bradley Fighting Vehicles, as well as armoured vehicle launched bridges, two U.S. officials and a person familiar with the package said.

The United States has provided nearly $32 billion in weaponry to Ukraine to defend itself against Russia, which invaded its pro-Western neighbour on Feb. 24 last year.The Biden administration is sounding out close allies about the possibility of imposing new sanctions on China if Beijing provides military support to Russia for its war in Ukraine, U.S. officials and other sources said. U.S. officials have not publicly provided evidence for their assertion that China was considering such assistance to Russia, which Beijing denies.White House national security spokesman John Kirby was asked by reporters on Thursday whether potential sanctions against China would be a topic for Biden and Scholz.

"I certainly would expect in the context of talking about what's going on in Ukraine that the issue of a third party support to Russia could come up," Kirby said.