Russian forces are striving to shape the battlefield to their advantage ahead of the crucial summit between Presidents Trump and Putin, advancing rapidly in eastern Ukraine after months of grinding combat.
Moscow’s latest push near Pokrovsk, in the Donetsk region, underscores its capacity to seize territory swiftly. The advance comes as President Putin is expected to present President Trump with major demands during Friday’s talks – potentially including a call for Ukraine to relinquish the remaining part of Donetsk still under Kyiv’s control.
Once a vital logistics hub for Ukrainian forces, Pokrovsk is now semi-encircled from the northeast to the southwest. Ukrainian troops can enter the city only through a narrow corridor, a route exposed to constant drone strikes.
