Even with a new round of negotiations on a concrete peace plan, Russia is maintaining the pace of its military offensive and expanding its territorial control in eastern Ukraine. This progress reveals that Vladimir Putin remains determined to reshape the map under Russian influence, while kyiv tries to reach an agreement that preserves its territorial integrity.
Early last week, the Kremlin revealed that Putin had received detailed reports on the troops’ recent progress.
According to Chief of Staff Valery Gerasimov, Russian forces took control of Pokrovsk — a major logistics center in the east of the country — and the town of Vovchansk, in the Kharkiv region. The update came during Putin’s visit to the command post of the Joint Group of Forces, where the president ordered a complete reinforcement of supplies for the winter.
Moscow reports several advances
Gerasimov also said that the Russian army launched an operation to capture Huliaipole, in Zaporizhzhia, and advanced towards the Gaichur River.
In published reports, the commander of the Center group, Valery Solodchuk, speaks of the elimination of a large Ukrainian contingent surrounded in Vovchansk and the control of the southern part of Dimitrov.
Putin publicly celebrated his troops’ performance. “The Armed Forces maintain the initiative and make progress on virtually all fronts,” he said.
kyiv, however, disputes this assertion. The Ukrainian General Staff maintains that Kupiansk remains under control of the country and rejects Russian reports of a siege and significant losses in Pokrovsk and Vovchansk as exaggerated.
Pokrovsk, a key part of Ukraine’s defense in the east, concentrates important rail and road routes – controlling it means dominating regional logistics flow.
Zelensky downplayed losses, called for more military support from the West and once again warned of troop shortages, reports of indefensible positions and internal resistance to mobilization.
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Russia’s military advance on the front contrasts with diplomatic negotiations and further isolates Ukraine from peace talks.
The United States and Russia negotiate without kyiv
- A meeting lasting approximately five hours between American special envoy Steve Witkoff and Vladimir Putin took place in the Kremlin.
- A meeting surrounded by tensions after the leak of a phone call which served as a “script” for a conversation between the Russian and Donald Trump, an episode which made Zelensky leave Washington empty-handed, without any guarantee on the sale of Tomahawk missiles.
- Before the meeting, the Ukrainian asked for “fair play” and said he expected to receive details of the negotiations immediately – he did not receive them.
- The Kremlin called the meeting with Witkoff “useful and constructive,” but clarified that kyiv would not participate in this stage.
- No agreement has been reached and no meeting between Russian and American leaders is planned.
Then Zelensky received another shower of cold water: according to Ushakov, “communication only takes place between Washington and Moscow.”
The Ukrainian responded by saying that negotiations between Washington and kyiv were still “on track”.
Trump, in turn, once again attacked the Ukrainian president. He said Zelensky “didn’t have any tricks up his sleeve” and took too long to negotiate with Moscow, recalling the fight between the two in the White House over land exploration contracts and security guarantees.
Military pressure intensifies
As diplomacy moves forward without kyiv, Russia continues to expand its territorial control. Over the past year, Moscow has expanded its presence mainly in the east – in the Luhansk and Donetsk regions – and stepped up airstrikes on the Ukrainian capital and other cities.
The goal remains full control of the Donbass, Zaporizhia and Kherson regions, as well as the consolidation of the annexation of Crimea.
According to the preliminary peace plan discussed between the United States and Russia, Ukraine should completely cede Luhansk, Donetsk and Crimea, as well as the occupied areas of Zaporizhia and Kherson. Ukrainian troops are expected to withdraw from parts of Donetsk still controlled by kyiv, which would be transformed into a demilitarized zone under de facto Russian control.
Zelensky says he will not agree to cede Donbass in exchange for peace and considers the territorial question “the most difficult element” of the negotiations.
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Conflict for strategic cities
The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) points out that Ukraine has built a 50 km “fortress belt” in Donetsk over the past 11 years. Despite this, Russia has recently made advances around Pokrovsk and Kostyantynivka. Moscow claims to have captured Krasnoarmeysk, which would open the way to Kramatorsk and Slovyansk – something kyiv denies.
Independent projects monitoring the front indicate that Pokrovsk has not yet completely fallen. The ISW estimates that it would take “several years” for Russia to completely take Donetsk, despite recent progress and declining own losses, attributed to the growing use of drones.
Putin also raised his voice. He said Moscow would take full control of Donbass “by force of arms” if kyiv did not voluntarily withdraw.
Russia currently controls 19.2% of Ukrainian territory, including all of Luhansk, more than 80% of Donetsk and parts of Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, Kharkiv and Sumy.
In a recent interview, Putin once again defended the annexation of Crimea. He said Russia did not take the territory, but “helped a people under threat after the coup in kyiv.” He denied any strategic interest in the local port and said the navy was already stationed in the area with Ukrainian permission.
Meanwhile, kyiv insists on a peace that does not involve capitulation.
Zelensky said Ukraine was ready “for any possible development” but stressed that peace could not mean territorial concessions. “We will work constructively with our partners to ensure that peace is achieved – and that it is dignified,” he said.
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