Russia advances in Donbas as Trump eyes peace deal
The Russian Armed Forces have struggled to push the Ukrainian Armed Forces out of the Kursk region and will likely attempt to encircle the entire Ukrainian foothold in the area.
Russian troops have started a new phase of the offensive in Donbas. As highlighted by the independent portal meduza.io, by the end of February, the operation near Kurakhove was nearly completed: the Russian Armed Forces pushed back the Ukrainian Armed Forces from the western outskirts of the city.
Now, troops from the vicinity of Kurakhove are being moved north to the Pokrovsk-Toretsk line, journalists emphasize.
The likely next target of the offensive will be the city of Kostyantynivka, the southernmost settlement in the Sloviansk-Kramatorsk agglomeration.
At the same time, the Russian Armed Forces have approached the main supply route of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in the Kursk region, the Sudja-Sumy road. In the coming weeks, they will attempt to encircle the Ukrainian group in Sudja or force it to move to the Sumy region.
Will Trump end the war in Ukraine?
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Monday in Washington, DC, that he could end the war in Ukraine within the next few weeks. He further announced that Russia would accept European peacekeeping forces in Ukraine.
Yes, they will accept it, Trump said, as quoted by Reuters. "I specifically asked him that question. He has no problem with it," he emphasized, referring to Putin.
Trump also announced that he might meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky this or next week to sign an agreement on minerals, which he claims is "very close" to being finalized. Regarding a meeting with Putin and a trip to Moscow, the American president said it would happen "in due time."
Putin himself stated that "he sees nothing wrong with European participation in negotiations regarding Ukraine." He also added that Russia and the U.S. could agree to reduce defense spending and assessed that it would be a good idea.
