identity crisis thesis statements

Identity Crisis

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Political Science

Identity Crisis: The 2016 Presidential Campaign and the Battle for the Meaning of America

• John Sides , Michael Tesler , and Lynn Vavreck

A gripping, in-depth account of the 2016 presidential election that explains Donald Trump’s historic victory

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Donald Trump’s election victory stunned the world. How did he pull it off? Was it his appeal to alienated voters in the battleground states? Was it Hillary Clinton and the scandals associated with her long career in politics? Were key factors already in place before the nominees were even chosen? Identity Crisis provides a gripping account of the campaign that appeared to break all the political rules—but in fact didn’t. Identity Crisis takes readers from the bruising primaries to an election night whose outcome defied the predictions of the pollsters and pundits. The book shows how fundamental characteristics of the nation and its politics—the state of the economy, the Obama presidency, and the demographics of the political parties—combined with the candidates’ personalities and rhetoric to produce one of the most unexpected presidencies in history. Early on, the fundamental characteristics predicted an extremely close election. And even though Trump’s many controversies helped Clinton maintain a comfortable lead for most of the campaign, the prediction of a close election became reality when Americans cast their votes. Identity Crisis reveals how Trump’s victory was foreshadowed by changes in the Democratic and Republican coalitions that were driven by people’s racial and ethnic identities. The campaign then reinforced and exacerbated those cleavages as it focused on issues related to race, immigration, and religion. The result was an epic battle not just for the White House but about what America is and should be.

Awards and Recognition

• Winner of the 2019 Richard E. Neustadt Award, Presidents and Executive Politics Section of the American Political Science Association
• "The Most Ominous Book I Read in 2018" (Carlos Lozado, Washington Post)
• One of Vox's 9 Thinkers Who Made Sense of 2018's Chaos

"There is little if any support in voting data for the notion that ‘economic anxiety’ drove people to vote for Trump. As documented in Identity Crisis , an important new book analyzing the 2016 election, what distinguished Trump voters wasn’t financial hardship but ‘attitudes related to race and ethnicity.’"—Paul Krugman, New York Times

"I think it is, without doubt, the most important, most illuminating book written on the 2016 election. And in doing that I think it’s one of the most important books for understanding American politics today. . . . There are so many findings in the book that if you really absorb them they can rock your understanding of politics."—Ezra Klein, Vox

"A vital new work on the political culture of the Trump era."—Carlos Lozada, Washington Post

"One of the most influential books on the 2016 election."—Thomas B. Edsall, New York Times

"The importance of the backlash around race and immigration inside the GOP is a central theme of a timely, careful and data-rich new book on the 2016 election by political scientists John Sides, Michael Tesler and Lynn Vavreck. In Identity Crisis , they argue that Trump understood what was happening inside the party in a way his rivals did not."—E.J. Dionne, Washington Post

"Other academics may also be skeptical of Cyberwar . A forthcoming book on the 2016 campaign, Identity Crisis , by the political scientists John Sides, Michael Tesler, and Lynn Vavreck, argues that Russian interference was not a major factor in the Presidential election, and that the hacked e-mails ‘did not clearly affect’ perceptions of Clinton. Instead, they write, Trump’s exploitation of divisive race, gender, religious, and ethnicity issues accounted for his win."—Jane Mayer, New Yorker

"Under their microscope, the white ‘economic anxiety’ excuse for voting Trump morphs into something completely different, identified by the authors as ‘racialized economics,’ which they define as ‘the belief that undeserving groups are getting ahead while your group is left behind.’"—Charles Jaco, St. Louis American

"With the luxury of hindsight and analytical acumen, political scientists John Sides, Michael Tesler, and Lynn Vavreck have produced an exceptionally well-researched and insightful postmortem that soberly isolates the election’s core significance: a polarizing debate over American identity spurred by immigration and demographic change. The result, Identity Crisis , is a definitive, statistically informed account of the 2016 presidential election."—Justin Gest, American Prospect

"This book is going to remain the definitive explanation of what motivated and differentiated voters from one another in both primary campaigns and the general election in 2016."—Ian Reifowitz, Daily Kos

"[The authors] counter some popular assumptions about the surprising outcome of the 2016 presidential election, which pitted two ‘historically unpopular presidential candidates’ against each other. . . . The authors cite three main reasons for Trump's victory: ‘fractured ranks’ within the Republican Party that impeded party leaders from coalescing behind any candidate; outsized media coverage of Trump that made him appear to be the front-runner even when coverage focused on scandals; and ‘racialized economics,’ in which racial attitudes ‘shaped the way voters understood economic outcomes.’ . . . A cogent, well-documented analysis of the 2016 election."— Kirkus

" Identity Crisis , a 2018 book by leading political scientists John Sides, Michael Tesler, and Lynn Vavreck, is the best guide to understanding why these demographic divisions are so stark and getting starker. The book is framed as a postmortem of the 2016 presidential election, but is in fact a sweeping account of the big picture in American politics over the past several decades."—Zack Beauchamp, Vox

"The definitive account of the 2016 election."—Alex Shephard, New Republic

"The most thorough social science analysis of the 2016 election."—Ilya Somin, Reason

"This is the best, most dispassionate analysis of 2016 that I have seen."—George Hawley, Law & Liberty

" Identity Crisis offers a strong and somewhat counter-intuitive thesis about the 2016 presidential election."— Survival

"After having spent years attempting to understand political and security dynamics in other countries beset by division, I, like many other Americans, am struggling to understand what’s happening in my own country. Identity Crisis provides a data-driven key for decoding the 2016 election, whose outcome was influenced more heavily than recent ones by racial and ethnic identity. The implications, although informative, are not comforting."—Stephen Tankel, War on the Rocks

“Lucid, engaging, and ruthlessly rational, Identity Crisis is the guide we needed to what really happened in 2016, an election we still haven’t come to terms with. After all the speculation and partisan blame, the authors’ search for the real answers isn’t just interesting—it’s necessary. Identity Crisis is about more than an election: it’s about the state of America at a moment of political breakdown.”—Molly Ball, national political correspondent, Time

“Sides, Tesler, and Vavreck offer context and a sense of proportion at a time of rapid change, misinformation, and uncertainty, helping us to untangle familiar patterns from what is genuinely new. Thoughtful, patient, and timely, Identity Crisis is an antidote to the hot takes of our political era.”—John F. Dickerson, author of Whistlestop and On Her Trail

“Donald Trump’s victory stunned most political observers and set off a debate that’s still raging about its causes and meaning. John Sides, Michael Tesler, and Lynn Vavreck supply a vital missing element: the data undergirding their penetrating and accessible analysis of the most shocking presidential outcome in modern history. Identity Crisis is the Rosetta stone for understanding what really happened in the 2016 election.”—Joshua Green, author of Devil’s Bargain: Steve Bannon, Donald Trump, and the Storming of the Presidency

“ Identity Crisis presents the most thorough, nuanced, and astute analysis of the 2016 presidential election I have seen. It makes a powerful case that identity politics rather than economic distress was the driving force behind Trump’s victory, and in doing so offers deep insight into the current state of American politics. A must-read for anyone trying to understand how we got to this singular moment.”—Gary C. Jacobson, coauthor of The Logic of American Politics

“Sides, Tesler, and Vavreck provide the most thorough, in-depth, and exhaustive explanation for the 2016 presidential election yet written. Carefully examining a panoply of potential factors influencing both the primaries and the general election, they sort the wheat from the chaff, examining both the myths and reality of Donald Trump’s ultimate rise.”—Diana C. Mutz, author of In-Your-Face Politics: The Consequences of Uncivil Media

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The Crisis of Identity

• First Online: 02 September 2020

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• Yvan Yenda Ilunga 3  

Part of the book series: Critical Political Theory and Radical Practice ((CPTRP))

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This chapter offers the view that long-term recovery and humanitarian solutions will be incomplete and unsuccessful if the identity issue among vulnerable populations, mainly displaced populations, is not central to the debate and practice of humanitarian action. In this chapter, Ilunga argues that identity issues should be addressed by tackling the problems of denationalization, de-patriotization, and hybrid identity. In fact, these three manifestations of the identity crisis continue to weaken the already challenged notion of national identity in Africa, which by its nature is so often undermined by the predominance of ethnicity. To address this crisis, the author suggests the use of Pan-Africanism as an inclusive ideology and identity, as supported by outstanding Pan-Africanist figures such as Bantu Stephen Biko and Kwame Nkrumah. Embracing Pan-Africanism has the merit of addressing the national and regional security crisis, while at the same time promoting an inclusive continental identity that would counteract the identity crisis engendered by humanitarian chaos.

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Department of Political Science, James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA, USA

Yvan Yenda Ilunga

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Ilunga, Y.Y. (2020). The Crisis of Identity. In: Humanitarianism and Security. Critical Political Theory and Radical Practice. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-51689-5_3

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Home > ETD > Masters > 726

Masters Theses

Black american identity crisis: culture and christ.

Celestine Job , Liberty University Follow

Rawlings School of Divinity

Master of Arts in Christian Apologetics (MA)

C. Fred Smith

Identity, Black Identity, Black Identity Crisis, Christian Identity, Spiritual Identity, Spiritual Transformation and Formation

Disciplines

Christianity | Religion | Religious Thought, Theology and Philosophy of Religion

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Job, Celestine, "Black American Identity Crisis: Culture and Christ" (2021). Masters Theses . 726. https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/masters/726

The purpose of this thesis is a comparative and qualitive study of African American identity and Christian/Spiritual identity. The formation of each identity was presented by examining psychological and sociological, causes of The case for an African American identity crisis was supported by the psychological and sociological trauma experienced through the African American experience in American. The research showed that the historical effects of slavery and lawful subjection, exclusion from the dominant society indeed cause an identity crisis that has rippling effects even to today. The Christian identity proved to be the highest form of identity, as it is rooted in the eternal. The spiritual life is essential to a health mental state, which includes formation of identity. By one embracing and being transformed into Christlikeness proved to be the healthiest and most effective identity for self and culture.

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Home > SCRIPPS > SCRIPPS_STUDENT > SCRIPPS_THESES > 505

Scripps Senior Theses

Identity and trauma in a song of ice and fire.

Jasmine E. Ye , Scripps College Follow

Graduation Year

Spring 2014

Document Type

Campus Only Senior Thesis

John Peavoy

Kimberly Drake

Terms of Use & License Information

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© 2014 Jasmine E. Ye

In George R. R. Martin's magnum opus, A Song of Ice and Fire , the fragmentation of the land mirrors a fragmentation of the self as many of Martin's characters lose their grips on their sense of identity due to the chaos caused by the ongoing civil war in Westeros and ultimately undergo an identity crisis. This thesis seeks to explore the ways in which George R. R. Martin utilizes the identity crisis as an instrument for obtaining a sense of agency and autonomy over oneself, particularly through the lens of trauma.

Recommended Citation

Ye, Jasmine E., "Identity and Trauma in A Song of Ice and Fire" (2014). Scripps Senior Theses . 505. https://scholarship.claremont.edu/scripps_theses/505

This thesis is restricted to the Claremont Colleges current faculty, students, and staff.

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The Declaration of Independence and the crisis of American identity

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Permanent link, date published, collections, related items.

Showing items related by title, author, creator and subject.

The resistance movement of 1765-1776 : the sons of liberty's quest for independence and the formation of the American identity 

Home > ETDS > Dissertations and Theses > 4615

Dissertations and Theses

The identity in crisis: a new approach to the culture shock experience of university exchange students.

Christina Maria Luther , Portland State University

Portland State University. Department of Applied Linguistics

First Advisor

Kimberley Brown

Date of Publication

Document type, degree name.

Master of Arts (M.A.) in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages

Teaching English as a Second Language

Culture shock, Intercultural communication

10.15760/etd.6499

Physical Description

1 online resource (2, viii, 97 p.)

The relationship of language and culture is explored in this thesis for the purpose of better understanding why all sojourners, regardless of preparation, experience some degree of culture shock. The author begins with a review of literature on culture shock establishing that the native language of sojourners is not considered to be of any consequence to the sojourning experience. The fields of intercultural communication, social psychology and psychology are then explored to establish the link between language and culture and to introduce the notion of linguistic identity. Evidence found in each of these fields leads the author to conclude that linguistic identity must become a focal point of language instruction and that both language and linguistic identity must be addressed more effectively in pre-departure orientations. Also included is a research proposal which is designed to test pre-departure orientation strategies which introduce students to linguistic identity and to track their transition experiences over the course of a year-long study abroad sojourn.

In Copyright. URI: http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/ This Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s).

If you are the rightful copyright holder of this dissertation or thesis and wish to have it removed from the Open Access Collection, please submit a request to [email protected] and include clear identification of the work, preferably with URL

Persistent Identifier

https://archives.pdx.edu/ds/psu/26681

Recommended Citation

Luther, Christina Maria, "The Identity in Crisis: A New Approach to the Culture Shock Experience of University Exchange Students" (1993). Dissertations and Theses. Paper 4615. https://doi.org/10.15760/etd.6499

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25 Thesis Statement Examples

A thesis statement is needed in an essay or dissertation . There are multiple types of thesis statements – but generally we can divide them into expository and argumentative. An expository statement is a statement of fact (common in expository essays and process essays) while an argumentative statement is a statement of opinion (common in argumentative essays and dissertations). Below are examples of each.

Strong Thesis Statement Examples

1. School Uniforms

“Mandatory school uniforms should be implemented in educational institutions as they promote a sense of equality, reduce distractions, and foster a focused and professional learning environment.”

Best For: Argumentative Essay or Debate

Read More: School Uniforms Pros and Cons

2. Nature vs Nurture

“This essay will explore how both genetic inheritance and environmental factors equally contribute to shaping human behavior and personality.”

Best For: Compare and Contrast Essay

Read More: Nature vs Nurture Debate

3. American Dream

“The American Dream, a symbol of opportunity and success, is increasingly elusive in today’s socio-economic landscape, revealing deeper inequalities in society.”

Best For: Persuasive Essay

Read More: What is the American Dream?

4. Social Media

“Social media has revolutionized communication and societal interactions, but it also presents significant challenges related to privacy, mental health, and misinformation.”

Best For: Expository Essay

Read More: The Pros and Cons of Social Media

5. Globalization

“Globalization has created a world more interconnected than ever before, yet it also amplifies economic disparities and cultural homogenization.”

Read More: Globalization Pros and Cons

6. Urbanization

“Urbanization drives economic growth and social development, but it also poses unique challenges in sustainability and quality of life.”

Read More: Learn about Urbanization

7. Immigration

“Immigration enriches receiving countries culturally and economically, outweighing any perceived social or economic burdens.”

Read More: Immigration Pros and Cons

8. Cultural Identity

“In a globalized world, maintaining distinct cultural identities is crucial for preserving cultural diversity and fostering global understanding, despite the challenges of assimilation and homogenization.”

Best For: Argumentative Essay

Read More: Learn about Cultural Identity

9. Technology

“Medical technologies in care institutions in Toronto has increased subjcetive outcomes for patients with chronic pain.”

Best For: Research Paper

10. Capitalism vs Socialism

“The debate between capitalism and socialism centers on balancing economic freedom and inequality, each presenting distinct approaches to resource distribution and social welfare.”

11. Cultural Heritage

“The preservation of cultural heritage is essential, not only for cultural identity but also for educating future generations, outweighing the arguments for modernization and commercialization.”

12. Pseudoscience

“Pseudoscience, characterized by a lack of empirical support, continues to influence public perception and decision-making, often at the expense of scientific credibility.”

Read More: Examples of Pseudoscience

13. Free Will

“The concept of free will is largely an illusion, with human behavior and decisions predominantly determined by biological and environmental factors.”

Read More: Do we have Free Will?

14. Gender Roles

“Traditional gender roles are outdated and harmful, restricting individual freedoms and perpetuating gender inequalities in modern society.”

Read More: What are Traditional Gender Roles?

15. Work-Life Ballance

“The trend to online and distance work in the 2020s led to improved subjective feelings of work-life balance but simultaneously increased self-reported loneliness.”

Read More: Work-Life Balance Examples

16. Universal Healthcare

“Universal healthcare is a fundamental human right and the most effective system for ensuring health equity and societal well-being, outweighing concerns about government involvement and costs.”

Read More: The Pros and Cons of Universal Healthcare

17. Minimum Wage

“The implementation of a fair minimum wage is vital for reducing economic inequality, yet it is often contentious due to its potential impact on businesses and employment rates.”

Read More: The Pros and Cons of Raising the Minimum Wage

18. Homework

“The homework provided throughout this semester has enabled me to achieve greater self-reflection, identify gaps in my knowledge, and reinforce those gaps through spaced repetition.”

Best For: Reflective Essay

Read More: Reasons Homework Should be Banned

19. Charter Schools

“Charter schools offer alternatives to traditional public education, promising innovation and choice but also raising questions about accountability and educational equity.”

Read More: The Pros and Cons of Charter Schools

20. Effects of the Internet

“The Internet has drastically reshaped human communication, access to information, and societal dynamics, generally with a net positive effect on society.”

Read More: The Pros and Cons of the Internet

21. Affirmative Action

“Affirmative action is essential for rectifying historical injustices and achieving true meritocracy in education and employment, contrary to claims of reverse discrimination.”

Best For: Essay

Read More: Affirmative Action Pros and Cons

22. Soft Skills

“Soft skills, such as communication and empathy, are increasingly recognized as essential for success in the modern workforce, and therefore should be a strong focus at school and university level.”

Read More: Soft Skills Examples

23. Moral Panic

“Moral panic, often fueled by media and cultural anxieties, can lead to exaggerated societal responses that sometimes overlook rational analysis and evidence.”

Read More: Moral Panic Examples

24. Freedom of the Press

“Freedom of the press is critical for democracy and informed citizenship, yet it faces challenges from censorship, media bias, and the proliferation of misinformation.”

Read More: Freedom of the Press Examples

25. Mass Media

“Mass media shapes public opinion and cultural norms, but its concentration of ownership and commercial interests raise concerns about bias and the quality of information.”

Best For: Critical Analysis

Read More: Mass Media Examples

Checklist: How to use your Thesis Statement

✅ Position: If your statement is for an argumentative or persuasive essay, or a dissertation, ensure it takes a clear stance on the topic. ✅ Specificity: It addresses a specific aspect of the topic, providing focus for the essay. ✅ Conciseness: Typically, a thesis statement is one to two sentences long. It should be concise, clear, and easily identifiable. ✅ Direction: The thesis statement guides the direction of the essay, providing a roadmap for the argument, narrative, or explanation. ✅ Evidence-based: While the thesis statement itself doesn’t include evidence, it sets up an argument that can be supported with evidence in the body of the essay. ✅ Placement: Generally, the thesis statement is placed at the end of the introduction of an essay.

Try These AI Prompts – Thesis Statement Generator!

One way to brainstorm thesis statements is to get AI to brainstorm some for you! Try this AI prompt:

💡 AI PROMPT FOR EXPOSITORY THESIS STATEMENT I am writing an essay on [TOPIC] and these are the instructions my teacher gave me: [INSTUCTIONS]. I want you to create an expository thesis statement that doesn’t argue a position, but demonstrates depth of knowledge about the topic.

💡 AI PROMPT FOR ARGUMENTATIVE THESIS STATEMENT I am writing an essay on [TOPIC] and these are the instructions my teacher gave me: [INSTRUCTIONS]. I want you to create an argumentative thesis statement that clearly takes a position on this issue.

💡 AI PROMPT FOR COMPARE AND CONTRAST THESIS STATEMENT I am writing a compare and contrast essay that compares [Concept 1] and [Concept2]. Give me 5 potential single-sentence thesis statements that remain objective.

Chris Drew (PhD)

Dr. Chris Drew is the founder of the Helpful Professor. He holds a PhD in education and has published over 20 articles in scholarly journals. He is the former editor of the Journal of Learning Development in Higher Education. [Image Descriptor: Photo of Chris]

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• Chris Drew (PhD) https://helpfulprofessor.com/author/chris-drew-phd/ What is Educational Psychology?

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Europe is still in short-term crisis mode over Ukraine and lacks a vision for its post-war  identity

Professor of International and European Politics, University of Warwick

Disclosure statement

Richard Youngs does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

University of Warwick provides funding as a founding partner of The Conversation UK.

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Some believe that the war in Ukraine has fundamentally changed Europe, giving birth to a different kind of European order. That is, it appears to be driving structural shifts in the way Europe is run and organised that extend well beyond the immediate imperative of helping Ukraine fight the war. European integration is deepening in some areas, like defence and security , and the EU looks set to extend its geographical borders to take in new members .

Reflecting this, EU leaders, politicians and writers typically compare the 2022 invasion with the inflection points of 1945 and 1989. Each of these put in place new organisations and rules that redefined European cooperation, politics, economics and security. The end of the cold war in 1989 was a catalyst for deeper European integration and opened the way to bringing many eastern European states into the EU.

Yet, the current process of re-ordering remains tentative. The EU collectively, and European governments individually, have agreed a significant amount of policy adjustment. In particular, governments have increased defence spending and the EU has launched dozens of new security initiatives . How far this constitutes a shift in the European order remains uncertain, however.

Many of the policy changes underway might be judged as welcome, necessary, and overdue so that Europe can adapt judiciously to the strategic imperatives of a more corrosive and fractious era. But the changes so far have been ad-hoc and expedient, bereft of any clear framework for structuring a new, post-war European order. They do not, in themselves, constitute a coherent or deeply rooted vision for a stronger and strategically adept Europe. Yet, this is what’s needed to address the challenges that the tragedy in Ukraine will leave in its wake.

Some changes do point towards possible shifts in the European order. European borders are being redrawn to bring in new member states. After years of keeping Ukraine, Modlova and Georgia outside, the EU has concluded that it is strategically important to begin accession talks with these states. The EU has strengthened its commitments to democratic norms as the Russian invasion has made the threat of authoritarian power more painfully tangible. It has also accelerated many aspects of its climate transition policies in response to the conflict, which has demonstrated the urgency of weaning Europe off strategically costly hydrocarbon dependencies.

Yet governments and EU institutions remain in short-term crisis mode. The flurry of EU policy change has yet to translate into a clear overarching strategy for a redesign of the European order. For now, the idea that the war has “changed everything” in Europe looks like an unwarranted exaggeration.

A ‘geoliberal’ Europe

Despite multiple reform proposals, the basic institutional shape of the EU remains untouched. Countries currently hoping to join the EU are being kept waiting in drawn out, technocratic processes despite the dangers they face from Russia.

Governments have bolted increased defence spending onto existing EU policies in response to the war without clarifying how these relate to the union’s supposed core liberal and peace-oriented principles. European leaders now ritually boast that the EU has become a toughened geopolitical power because of its response to Ukraine, but this does not seem to extend to having a position on engagements in places like the Sahel or the conflict in Gaza.

If anything, the war’s cruel continuation may actually be weakening the foundations and core principles of European order in some senses. It presents challenges of such immediacy that it has forced individual governments into defensive measures that reflect their own immediate, individual interests. But these potentially militate against coordination between nations.

For now, the EU appears stuck in an “in-between” period. Many of the union’s old organising principles, like the notion of its blurred internal borders, are no longer fit for purpose but governments lack the necessary political conviction to usher in a clearly defined new order.

EU leaders need to move towards what might be termed a geoliberal Europe. As mapped out in my new book , this would reflect geopolitical reality but also the liberal and democratic values that are supposed to define Europe and supposedly sit at the heart of the war’s rationale. This would take Europe out of crisis mode and enable it to map out a new, post-war approach to order. While this is lacking, the day-to-day debates about whether the EU is “doing enough” to help Ukraine will lack the necessary strategic orientation and anchoring.

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• International relations
• European politics
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May 16, 2024 - Russia's war in Ukraine

By Helen Regan and Sana Noor Haq, CNN

Our live coverage for the day has ended. Follow the latest Ukraine news  or read through the updates below.

Russia and China display united front, as fighting ravages Ukraine. Here's what you need to know.

From CNN staff

Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping sought to deepen ties across energy, trade and security on Thursday, against a backdrop of political unrest.

Both leaders made specific references to the war in Ukraine, sovereignty in Taiwan and fighting in the Middle East, during Putin's two-day state visit to Beijing.

Here are the latest developments:

• 'International turbulence': Putin and Xi expressed "very deep concern" over "destabilizing" US military activity with allies "that have a clear anti-Russian and anti-Chinese orientation," in a statement released by the Kremlin. Referencing Moscow's invasion of Ukraine, Russia said it welcomes the readiness of China "to play a constructive role" in the political and diplomatic settlement of the war.
• Symbolic overseas trip: Putin's visit marked his first foray abroad since starting a  new term as Russia’s president  last week, as Russia and China form closer relations in the face of heavy friction with the West. Relations between the two countries are "experiencing the best period in their history,” the statement from the Kremlin added.
• Zelensky warns of Russian advances: In Ukraine, President Volodymyr Zelensky met with senior military officials in Kharkiv city. He described an "extremely difficult" outlook for Ukrainian troops on the ground, after Moscow's forces drove a surprise cross-border attack in the northeastern region earlier this month. Lt. Col. Nazar Voloshyn said combat in the Kharkiv direction "is changing dynamically." 
• Civilians try to flee beleaguered Kharkiv: A senior Ukrainian minister alleged Russian forces are prohibiting civilians evacuating from the town of Vovchansk, one of the sites of Moscow's sweeping offensive towards Kharkiv. CNN is unable to independently verify the claims from Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko and has asked the Russian Defense Ministry for comment. 
• Ukrainians celebrate national identity: On the third Thursday of May, Ukrainians worldwide celebrate the Vyshyvanka , a traditional embroidered shirt. Nowadays, many wear the Vyshyvanka as a challenge to Russia, as a display of their national identity and to celebrate the long history of Ukraine. Zelensky said the shirt is synonymous with "those who defend humanity, freedom, and the right to self-identity," in a post on X .

Xi told Putin that China supports peace conference for “Ukraine crisis," China’s foreign ministry says

From CNN’s Shawn Deng, Mariya Knight and Sahar Akbarzai

Chinese President Xi Jinping had an in-depth exchange of views Thursday on the war in Ukraine with his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, according to a statement from China’s foreign ministry. 

During the meeting in Beijing, Xi conveyed China’s support for convening an international peace conference to settle the “Ukraine crisis” and reiterated China’s commitment to continue to play a constructive role in an early political settlement, according to the statement.

Putin said he welcomed China’s stance on Ukraine and said Moscow would further ensure a consensus is reached between both sides.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has said he would “very much  like China to be involved ” in Ukraine’s peace plan.

The Ukrainian peace summit is set to take place  next month in Switzerland .

Russia has not been represented in any of the four closed-door international peace talks so far and will not be participating this year. China has only attended one hosted by its increasingly close strategic partner, Saudi Arabia.

NATO: Russian forces lack numbers for a "strategic" breakthrough in Kharkiv

From CNN’s Alex Hardie in London

NATO believes Russian troops don't have the numbers necessary for a "strategic" breakthrough in Ukraine's Kharkiv region, a senior commander of the military alliance said on Thursday, though he acknowledged that Moscow's forces have made "local advances."

Responding to a question about Russian troops pushing deeper into the northeastern region, Gen. Christopher Cavoli, Supreme Allied Commander Europe, told a press conference in Brussels that "(Russians) don't have the skill and the capability to do it, to operate at the scale necessary to exploit any breakthrough to strategic advantage."

NATO's assessment comes after Russian forces took control of several villages close to the border since launching a surprise attack on May 10. 

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met with senior military officials in Kharkiv earlier on Thursday. He described an "extremely difficult" outlook for Kyiv's troops on the ground, where "we are strengthening our units." 

Ukraine’s Lt. Col. Nazar Voloshyn warned combat in the Kharkiv direction "remains complicated and is changing dynamically."

Why Ukrainians wear this symbol of national identity

From CNN's Maria Kostenko and Sana Noor Haq

On the third Thursday of every May, Ukrainians across the globe celebrate the vyshyvanka, a traditional embroidered shirt.

Yet the stitched panelling of a vyshyvanka extends beyond the garment itself. For many Ukrainians, each star or flower design is a symbolic expression of their right to self-determination.

"I think that vyshyvanka is a very vivid symbol that speaks for itself. Wearing vyshyvanka is very easy to show your identity, your position, your belonging to a certain group," said Natalia Kamenska, co-founder of the Ukrainian brand Gunja Project. "It is a way of saying 'We are Ukrainians.'"

Ukrainians mark Vyshyvanka Day by wearing the traditional dress. Kamenska, a designer, told CNN the shirt helps Ukrainian people form a sense of belonging in the face of colossal grief and uncertainty.

"All Ukrainians have been thinking about who we are and how important it is to defend our land, our right to exist on this land, and our independence," she told CNN. "A lot of people wear vyshyvankas. More and more people have become interested in the history of their family and their country.

Kamenska described the war in Ukraine as "a tumultuous time" for her compatriots.

"With families being separated, people fleeing their homeland, people have a sense of constant anxiety from not knowing what will happen tomorrow," she added. "For many people, vyshyvanka is a thing that reminds them of the importance of everything that is happening now."

Ukrainian minister claims Russians are refusing to let civilians evacuate from town in Kharkiv region

From CNN's Maria Kostenko in Kyiv and Radina Gigova in London 

The Russian military is not allowing civilians to evacuate from the town of Vovchansk in the Kharkiv region, according to Ukraine's interior minister on Thursday. Ihor Klymenko said that National Police investigators in the region have launched a criminal investigation "into the violation of the rules and customs of war." 

CNN is unable to independently verify Klymenko's claims and has contacted the Russian Defense Ministry for comment. 

Klymenko said the police evacuation teams continue to work in Vovchansk "despite intense fighting and are trying to ensure further evacuation of people." 

Oleksii Kharkivskyi, the chief patrol officer of the Vovchansk Police Department, posted on Facebook on Thursday that evacuations are still underway and that "staying in the town is dangerous."

The head of the Kharkiv regional military administration, Oleh Syniehubov, also said Thursday that evacuations continue but claims Russian forces have used cluster munitions to attack a village in the Vovchansk area, injuring five people.

Some context: The town of Vovchansk, located about 60 km (or about 37 miles) northeast of Ukraine's second-largest city of Kharkiv, has been the scene of some of the most intense battles in areas near the border in recent days as Russia continues efforts to push deeper into Ukrainian territory.

Ukrainians celebrate their heritage on Vyshyvanka Day, as Russia's invasion rages on

From CNN's AnneClaire Stapleton

Every year, on the third Thursday of May, Ukrainians worldwide celebrate Vyshyvanka Day. 

This holiday is dedicated to preserving Ukraine's famous embroidered shirt, known as a “vyshyvanka," as a symbol of its people's material and spiritual heritage. 

Ukrainian embroidery varies in its techniques, and different regions across the country produce their own patterns. Traditionally, each stitch, star or flower has a particular meaning.

In the past, many Ukrainians saw the embroidery as a protective talisman and it represents happiness, fate, life and victory. 

Nowadays, Ukrainians also wear the vyshyvanka as a challenge to Russia, as a display of their national identity and to celebrate the long history of Ukraine.

Russia and China relations are at "the best period in their history," joint statement says

From CNN's Simone McCarthy, Alex Stambaugh and Anna Chernova

Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping agreed to strengthen ties across energy, trade, security and geopolitics on Thursday, as both parties displayed their close relationship against the backdrop of regional unrest.

Both leaders shared their vision in a statement released by the Kremlin after a meeting in Beijing, with specific references to the war in Ukraine, sovereignty in Taiwan and fighting in the Middle East. 

"In conditions of international turbulence, Russian-Chinese relations stand the test of rapid changes in the world, demonstrating strength and stability, and are experiencing the best period in their history," according to the statement.

Putin and Xi said they would "deepen trust" and military "cooperation" by expanding dual exercises and combat training, regularly holding joint sea and air patrols and improving the "level of joint response to challenges and threats."

The two countries also expressed "very deep concern" over what they described as "extremely destabilizing" US military activity with allies "that have a clear anti-Russian and anti-Chinese orientation."

Referencing Moscow's invasion of Ukraine, Russia said it welcomes the readiness of China "to play a constructive role" in the political and diplomatic settlement of the war.

"It is necessary to eliminate its root causes and adhere to the principle of the indivisibility of security," the statement said. "There can be no winners in a nuclear war and it should never be fought."

Zelensky visits beleaguered Kharkiv, amid sweeping Russian border assault

From CNN's Radina Gigova and Maria Kostenko 

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met with senior military officials in the city of Kharkiv on Thursday, as Russian forces push deeper into the northeastern region. 

The Ukrainian leader described an "extremely difficult" outlook for Kyiv's troops on the ground, where "we are strengthening our units." He also met with the senior officials from other border and frontline regions.

Efforts to bolster Ukrainian forces were concentrated in Lyptsi and Vovchansk; a town located about 60 km (37 miles) northeast of Kharkiv city and the site of some of the most intense battles near the border. 

At the same time, Lt. Col. Nazar Voloshyn warned combat in the Kharkiv direction "remains complicated and is changing dynamically." 

"Our forces are preventing the occupiers from gaining a foothold in certain areas in the northern Kharkiv region," Voloshyn said in a television interview. 

"The enemy's advance in certain settlements has been stopped. However, the enemy is trying to ensure conditions for further advancement in order to take advantageous positions," Voloshyn added. 

Russian forces have taken control of more than nine villages close to the border since they launched a surprise attack on May 10 . 

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