Russia claims to have captured Pokrovsk

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is in Ireland to garner support as U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff prepares to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow. Zelenskyy's visit includes meetings with key Irish officials and an address to the Irish parliament, emphasizing the urgency to end the ongoing conflict with Russia.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte emphasized the necessity for increased support from the United States and Europe in facilitating negotiations between Russia and Ukraine, although he did not disclose specific details regarding the peace plan. This statement comes amid ongoing discussions about the conflict and potential resolutions.

The city of Pokrovsk, once a strategic stronghold in eastern Ukraine, has been devastated after an 18-month battle, with Russian forces claiming full control while Ukrainian officials assert they still hold parts of the city. This conflict has escalated significantly since the summer of 2024, marking a critical phase in the ongoing war between Ukraine and Russia.

A U.S. delegation, including special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, is meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow to discuss potential peace talks aimed at ending the ongoing war in Ukraine. The Kremlin has expressed openness to negotiations but insists that its war objectives must be met, raising concerns about the sincerity of its commitment to peace. Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is engaged in discussions with leaders from the UK and France, emphasizing the international dimension of the conflict.

Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla, daughter of former South African President Jacob Zuma, is under investigation for allegedly recruiting men to fight for Russian forces in the ongoing Ukraine conflict. Reports indicate that she may have lured these individuals with promises of paramilitary training in Russia, raising serious concerns about her involvement in international mercenary activities.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met with French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris to bolster European support amid ongoing discussions for a peace plan to end the conflict with Russia. Macron emphasized that any resolution must involve Kyiv and European powers, highlighting the critical nature of this diplomatic engagement at a pivotal moment in the war.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has claimed that Russian forces have captured the strategic city of Pokrovsk in Ukraine, a statement disputed by Ukrainian officials who assert they still control parts of the city. This announcement coincides with the arrival of U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff in Moscow for talks aimed at negotiating a peace deal to end the ongoing conflict.

U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff is set to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow as part of renewed diplomatic efforts to end the ongoing war in Ukraine. This meeting follows a series of productive discussions between U.S. officials and Ukrainian representatives aimed at establishing a peace framework.