Russia makes battlefield gains as Zelensky vows to keep land Putin covets

London: Russian forces have gained ground in eastern Ukraine in a rapid advance ahead of talks on Friday about a possible ceasefire, and as Russian President Vladimir Putin demands territory in any deal with US President Donald Trump.

Russian soldiers have seized areas around the Ukrainian city of Dobropillia in the Donetsk region, and are seeking greater control over a major highway that leads to the west, presenting a serious threat after a long standstill between the two sides.

The moves raise the stakes in Trump’s meeting with Putin at an air base near Anchorage, Alaska, on Friday after the Russian leader chose to intensify the war in recent weeks as the US president set a series of shifting deadlines for a peace deal.

Russia has bombarded Ukrainian cities with missiles and drones while also trying to pierce the Ukrainian defences along the front line in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions Putin wants to gain in the negotiations.

Trump has alarmed European leaders with his suggestion of “land-swapping” in his talks with Putin, triggering a warning from European Union leaders on Tuesday against giving up territory.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who has not been invited to the Alaska summit, is expected to speak with Trump on Wednesday, German time, as part of a video conference hosted by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz.

The video conference is also scheduled to include the leaders of Germany, Finland, France, Britain, Italy, Poland, the European Union and NATO.

Zelensky insisted on Tuesday that he would not give up the Donbas region, which covers Donetsk and Luhansk.

“We see that the Russian army is not preparing to end the war,” Zelensky said in a statement.

“On the contrary, they are making movements that indicate preparations for new offensive operations. In such circumstances, it is important that the unity of the world is not threatened.”

The Russian manoeuvre takes its military within sight of gaining Pokrovsk and extending control over the E50 highway, but the Ukrainian government said it was taking measures to stop the advance.

“Our units are leading tough defensive battles against the dominant forces of the enemy,” the Ukrainian General Staff said.

“Several small opposition groups, bypassing the positions of Ukrainian defenders, attempted to advance in the direction of the Golden Well settlement.

“The situation is challenging and dynamic, however, the Defence Forces are taking all necessary measures to identify and destroy enemy groups.”

Reuters said the DeepState war map – a public resource that tracks the war – showed that Russian forces had advanced by at least 10 kilometres, while The Wall Street Journal cited officials to report a similar gain.

European Union leaders are pushing for Zelensky to gain a seat at the negotiations on Friday out of concern that Trump will trade away European interests after he praised Putin on Monday as a “respectful” counterpart.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen led the latest statement from EU leaders, ahead of the video call on Wednesday.

“A just and lasting peace that brings stability and security must respect international law, including the principles of independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity and that international borders must not be changed by force,” the EU leaders said.

“The people of Ukraine must have the freedom to decide their future. The path to peace in Ukraine cannot be decided without Ukraine.”

Highlighting divisions in the union, the EU statement said “Hungary does not associate itself” with the stance.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has praised Putin, objected to military aid for Ukraine and kept ties with Russia. Trump said on Monday he had spoken to Orban about the war and believed he was a “very, very smart man”.

Trump said he asked Orban whether Ukraine could beat Russia. “He looked at me like, ‘What a stupid question’,” the president said.

“He said Russia is a massive country, and they win their country, they win their lives through wars.”

The broad concern in the European Union, however, is that any success for Putin at the meeting will embolden him to seek other territory in Europe. He has sent military forces to the border with Finland and has long claimed that the Baltic states of Lithuania, Estonia and Latvia belong to Russia.

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