Russia on Sunday claimed its troops had captured a strategically important town in eastern Ukraine as part of a grinding campaign to weaken Kyiv’s grip on the country’s industrial heartland, while uncertainty over the continued flow of U.

With Russia wearing down Ukraine’s stretched forces and U.S. President Donald Trump pressuring the two sides to end their nearly 3-year-old war, Kyiv and some of its European allies are discussing how that might be achieved in a way that would guarantee Ukraine’s future security.

Putin’s forces claim capture of strategic town as Zelensky makes demand for Trump talks to end war - Separate Mechanised Brigade confirms withdrawing strategically from some area to avoid encirclement

Russia’s Defense Ministry claims that Russian troops have fought their way into the center of a strategically important eastern Ukraine town and raised the Russian flag there after a monthslong battle.

Continuing their relentless advance on the Ukrainian front lines, Russian forces have captured the town of Velyka Novosilka in the Donetsk region. Moscow's Defense Ministry stated that Russian troops had "liberated" the settlement,