According to Politico, Moscow has intensified its offensive on the eastern front, seeking to strengthen its position ahead of potential ceasefire talks. The main event of recent days has been the advance of Russian forces in the area of Pokrovsk (Donetsk region) — one of the key strongholds of Ukraine’s defense.
The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that nearly 200 Russian troops entered Pokrovsk over the weekend after months of attempts to break through the front line.
The situation in the area remains “highly dynamic and tense,” Ukrainian military officials said. Despite the intensity of the attacks, Ukrainian forces have not been encircled and managed to retake some positions, stabilizing the situation in several sectors.
In his evening address, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed that the situation in Pokrovsk was “difficult” and the fighting “fierce.” He stressed that maintaining control over the city is of “critical strategic importance” for the defense of the entire Donbas front.
The Political Context: Moscow Races Toward Negotiations
The escalation of hostilities coincides with signs of potential diplomatic movement. As Politico notes, both Moscow and Kyiv are trying to strengthen their positions on the battlefield to approach possible negotiations with maximum leverage.
On Friday, Kirill Dmitriev, the Russian president’s special representative for investment and economic cooperation, stated that Moscow, Kyiv, and Washington are “quite close” to reaching a ceasefire agreement.
His statement came shortly after Zelenskyy suggested that “freezing the conflict along the current frontlines” could be considered a “reasonable compromise.”
Pressure on the Kremlin: Kyiv’s Allies Count on Washington’s Role
According to Politico, Kyiv and its European partners hope that President Donald Trump will pressure Vladimir Putin to abandon his “maximalist” stance — particularly his claims over parts of the Donetsk region that Russian forces still do not control.
Western diplomats expect any ceasefire to be established along the current frontlines, without further territorial concessions. However, as the outlet notes, Putin continues to maneuver and delay, alternately hinting at a possible meeting with Trump and Zelenskyy and then withdrawing such proposals.
Meanwhile, the Russian army has accelerated its operations, trying to seize as much territory as possible before any deal might be reached.
Nuclear Signaling and Washington’s Reaction
On the same day, Moscow announced the successful test of the nuclear-powered Burevestnik cruise missile, claiming readiness to deploy it in combat if necessary.
The news drew a sharp response from U.S. President Donald Trump, who told reporters aboard Air Force One:
“I don’t think that’s an appropriate thing for Putin to be saying. By the way, he ought to get the war ended. A war that should have taken one week is now in its, soon, fourth year. That’s what he ought to do instead of testing missiles.”
Behind the Talk of a “Freeze”
According to Politico, statements about an impending ceasefire may be part of a political game by both sides. Russia, by increasing pressure around Pokrovsk, seeks to demonstrate that its army remains capable of breakthroughs, while Ukraine strives to show resilience and readiness to fight even under heavy strain.
Meanwhile, the Trump administration, caught between its alliance commitments and the need to reduce global tensions, is attempting to maintain a fragile balance between pressuring the Kremlin and searching for a path out of a war that is about to enter its fourth year.
This article was prepared based on materials published by Politico. The author does not claim authorship of the original text but presents their interpretation of the content for informational purposes.
The original article can be found at the following link: Politico.
All rights to the original text belong to Politico.
