Russia puts Kyiv's forces under pressure ahead of key talks on peace plan
Russian forces are advancing in the Kursk region in northeast Russia ahead of talks in Saudi Arabia aimed at paving the way to a peace plan.
According to the Institute for the Study of War, Russian troops regained control of several villages over the weekend and are threatening to encircle thousands of Ukrainian soldiers.
Ukraine had previously gained 500 sq miles of territory in Russia's Kursk in August 2024, with Kyiv saying it was an attempt to gain a bargaining chip in future negotiations and to force Russia to shift forces from eastern Ukraine, but Russia has retaken more than half of that land in the last month alone.
Russia's rapid advance began immediately after the US stopped intelligence-sharing with Ukraine on 5 March, launching a paratrooper offensive from several different directions and cutting off Ukrainian supply lines.
There are reports that Russian forces are also attempting to block withdrawal routes by destroying key bridges, leaving thousands of Ukrainian soldiers trapped.
Ukrainian sources claim two battalions of North Korean troops are backing the Russian offensive.
The Ukrainian army says it is putting up a fight, repelling 27 attacks by Russian forces in a single day amid intense fighting on the frontlines.
Pressure on Ukraine ahead of talks
The government in Kyiv says Russia wants to use recent gains on the ground as a bargaining chip in future peace talks.
President Donald Trump is pressing for a swift end to the war, but the sides are far apart.
Russia currently controls around 20% of Ukrainian territory, and Ukraine has vowed not to concede any of its land as part of a peace plan.
But Russia has the upper hand militarily, amid a shift in US policy which includes the suspension of military aid for Ukraine.
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky is standing firm.
In a post on X, he blamed Russia for the war in his country, saying: "Ukraine has been seeking peace since the very first second of the war, and we have always said the only reason it continues is Russia."
Mr Zelensky also paid tribute to his troops: "I am grateful to every unit and Ukraine defending Ukraine's positions, ensuring the destruction of the occupies and making every effort to provide our country with the strength needed to bring peace closer."
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