Moscow mentioned it captured territory shortly earlier than potential peace talks start in Saudi Arabia.
Moscow says it has made new good points in Ukraine’s Sumy area and Russia’s Kursk area as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy mentioned he was “absolutely dedicated” to having a constructive dialogue with United States representatives forward of talks in Saudi Arabia to debate the way to finish Russia’s warfare on Ukraine.
US and Ukrainian negotiators are set to fulfill for talks in the Crimson Sea metropolis of Jeddah on Tuesday, with US President Donald Trump’s administration vying to safe a ceasefire and a “framework” for a peace settlement.
Regardless of the upcoming talks, the Russian Ministry of Defence mentioned in a briefing that its forces had “liberated” the small village of Novenke in Sumy close to the border with Kursk. Moscow additionally introduced the recapture of the villages of Lebedevka, Malaya Loknya, Cherkasskoye Porechnoye and Kositsa in Kursk.
Russia briefly occupied elements of Ukraine’s Sumy in the beginning of its all-out invasion in 2022 however has not taken any territory there since.
Kyiv has not but commented on Russia’s declare to have captured Novenke, which analysts say might convey Russian troops nearer to blocking a serious Ukrainian provide route.
Zelenskyy mentioned in his night tackle on Sunday: “I wish to thank all our items who’re steadfastly and in opposition to all odds destroying the occupier, repelling assaults and defending our positions.
“Diplomacy can be sturdy solely on sturdy front-line positions. And we’re doing our greatest to make sure that Ukraine’s front-line wants are met.”
Who’s assembly who
The US minimize off Ukraine’s entry to intelligence sharing and satellite tv for pc information, in addition to help – following a White Home public spat with Zelenskyy – in a bid to power Kyiv to barter an finish to Russia’s invasion – Europe’s greatest battle since World Warfare II.
Zelenskyy invited Trump’s wrath for rejecting a mineral deal, which the Ukrainian president says ought to contain a US safety assure. However the Trump administration has refused to decide to that and as a substitute requested Europe to step up help for the war-battered nation.
European leaders have, in the meantime, agreed to spice up defence spending as they pledged assist to Ukraine in opposition to Russian threats. Washington has additionally poured chilly water over Ukraine’s NATO ambitions.
Zelenskyy confirmed on Saturday that he would go to Saudi Arabia subsequent week and that after assembly with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on Monday, Ukrainian diplomatic and army representatives would keep for a gathering on Tuesday with the US.
“Ukraine has been searching for peace from the very first second of this warfare. Lifelike proposals are on the desk. The secret is to maneuver rapidly and successfully,” the Ukrainian president mentioned on X.
US envoy Steve Witkoff, in the meantime, confirmed final week that he would meet Ukrainian officers in Saudi Arabia, signalling that he would talk about an “preliminary ceasefire” and a “framework” for an extended settlement.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio can even go to Saudi Arabia between March 10 and 12 for talks with Ukrainian counterparts, an announcement from the US Division of State mentioned.
He can even maintain talks with Prince Mohammed to debate regional points and methods to bolster US-Saudi Arabian ties, the State Division mentioned.
Rubio spoke with Ukrainian International Minister Andrii Sybiha on Friday and mentioned Trump needed to finish the warfare in Ukraine as quickly as potential.
It will likely be the primary high-level gathering of US and Ukrainian officers because the February 28 assembly between Zelenskyy and Trump devolved right into a shouting match and ended with the Ukrainian chief being requested to go away the White Home.
