Russian soldiers in Donetsk, photo: Russian Defense Ministry / Tass / Profimedia
Russia claimed on Saturday the conquest of two villages in the Donettk region, in eastern Ukraine, intensifying military pressure on the front when diplomatic efforts accelerate to find a conflict solution that lasts three and a half, AFP reports.
In a statement published on Telegram, the Russian Ministry of Defense said that it has captured Srednee and Kleban-Bik in Donețk, a region that Moscow has already announced to annexed, although it does not control 100%.
The conquest of Kleban-Bik marks a step forward to the city of Kostiantinivka, an important bastion on the road to Kramatorsk, which is in turn an important point for Ukrainian logistics on the front of the Donetk region.
The Russian army has expanded its territory in recent months, in front of Ukrainian forces less numerous and less equipped.
These advances take place when the perspective of a meeting between Russian and Ukrainian presidents, Vladimir Putin and Volodimir Zelenski, announced by US President Donald Trump and meant to find a peaceful solution, seems more and more distant.
The head of Russian diplomacy, Sergei Lavrov, accused the Ukrainian leader on Friday of blocking a possible meeting with his Russian counterpart, one day after Zelenski's similar criticisms of Moscow.
For his part, Donald Trump, who wants to quickly find a solution to the Ukraine war triggered by Putin in 2022 and has achieved a spectacular approach to Moscow in recent months to reach this goal, announced on Friday that he was giving “two weeks” to decide his position on this conflict.
The Russian army currently occupies about 20% of the Ukrainian territory. The leader in Kyiv reiterated on Saturday, on the Flag Day, that he will not give up the territories of his country.
