Ukraine war briefing: Kyiv’s troops regain village near Pokrovsk where ISW says Russians falter
Moscow claims recapture of some Russian territory held by Ukrainian troops in Kursk; ‘security guarantees’ hole in US-Ukraine mineral deal. What we know on day 1,100
Ukrainian troops on Wednesday announced a successful counterattack to retake the settlement of Kotlyne near the key city of Pokrovsk, which many Russian forces have died trying to take over the past year. The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) said: “The year-long Russian effort to seize Pokrovsk has so far failed, and Russian forces appear to have abandoned the effort to take the city directly, preferring instead to conduct a wide envelopment. The Kremlin may have abandoned even that effort for now, however, in the fact of increasing Ukrainian resistance in the area and extremely high Russian losses.”
The Russian defence ministry said its forces had recaptured the settlements of Pogrebki and Orlovka, north of the town of Sudzha, in Kursk oblast where Ukraine has held territory inside Russia since August 2024. The ministry added that Russian forces had struck Ukrainian units and positions near more than a dozen settlements, including several around Sudzha. Zelenskyy, in his nightly video address, noted it was nearly seven months that Ukrainian forces “have been holding the buffer zone on the aggressor’s territory in Russia. They have almost become used to it.”
The Ukrainian military said it had attacked Russia’s Tuapse oil refinery on the Black Sea coast and that at least 40 explosions had been recorded at the site. Tuapse is home to one of Russia’s biggest oil refineries and has been targeted by Ukrainian drones several times before. The Ukrainian military also said it had attacked two military airfields in Russia-controlled Crimea but gave no further details. Russia confirmed drones attacked its southern Krasnodar region, including the port of Tuapse, on Wednesday. Drones also attacked the Russian regions of Bryansk and Kursk, which border Ukraine, according to Russia’s defence ministry.
Ukraine said Russian strikes on Kostyantynivka city in the east killed at least five people and wounded eight more. Russian drones also killed two people near Kyiv, including the Ukrainian journalist Tetiana Kulyk who worked for the Ukrinform news agency. Ukraine’s interior ministry said separately that two people were wounded in Kharkiv city during a drone attack. Ukraine’s largest private energy company, DTEK, said one of its facilities had been damaged in the Dnipropetrovsk region.
Any peace deal for Ukraine must include “security guarantees” involving the “Atlantic alliance”, according to Giorgia Meloni, who was referencing Nato. The Italian prime minister spoke as it emerged a draft deal between the US and Ukraine does not include security guarantees, but only references Ukraine somehow obtaining them. Peace in Ukraine “can only be achieved if Kyiv is given adequate security guarantees to make sure that what we have seen over the past three years does not happen again”, Meloni said on Tuesday.
While Donald Trump said Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, would sign their “very big agreement” in Washington on Friday, Zelenskyy insisted that “guarantees of peace and security” remained vital as he prepared for “talks” with Trump. “For me and for all of us in the world, it’s important that US support is not stopped. Strength is needed on the path to peace,” Zelenskyy said during his evening address to Ukrainians on Wednesday. Zelenskyy elsewhere suggested the deal provides a “framework” under which security guarantees would be agreed jointly with the US and Europe. On security guarantees, Trump said “we’re going to have Europe do that” and Ukraine should forget about joining Nato.
Zelenskyy is expected to visit Britain this weekend for talks with its prime minister, Keir Starmer, and other European leaders. Zelenskyy said on Wednesday that after his proposed trip to Washington on Friday, “I plan to go to London: and immediately after this I and the Europeans will meet there with Keir Starmer”. Keir Starmer will convene the meeting after he returns from also meeting with Trump in Washington.
The Romanian parliament has authorised its army and allies to shoot down drones illegally breaching Romanian airspace. The EU and Nato member has had Russian drone fragments repeatedly fall on to its territory as Moscow has attacked Kyiv’s ports.
Continue reading...-
Ukraine war briefing: European allies rush to showcase extra support for Kyiv
Baltic and Nordic countries to equip and train Ukrainian brigade; Rheinmetall car part factories to make weapons and ammunition. What we know on day 1,098 Continue reading...The Guardian - 2d -
Tuesday Briefing: The Ukraine War’s 3rd Anniversary
Plus, letting resorts run wild.The New York Times - 2d -
Ukraine war briefing: Trump turnaround as he acknowledges Russia invaded Ukraine
US president earlier drew criticism after saying Kyiv ‘should have never started’ war; Trump predicts Ukraine will soon sign minerals deal with US. What we know on day 1,095. Europe live: latest ...The Guardian - 5d -
U.N. rejects U.S. resolution on Ukraine war that downplayed Russian role
The United States failed to get the U.N. General Assembly to approve its resolution urging an end to the war without mentioning Moscow's aggression.CBS News - 2d -
US drives Ukraine war measure through UN with Russian backing
Security Council resolution calling for ‘swift end’ to conflict deals further blow to western unityFinancial Times - 2d -
FirstFT: US drives UN resolution on Ukraine war with Russian backing
Also in today’s newsletter, US companies left out of defence stock rally and BP abandons pledge to cut oil and gas outputFinancial Times - 1d -
US, Russian officials to meet again within 2 weeks to discuss Ukraine war: Russia
U.S. and Russian officials will meet again within two weeks to discuss ending the war in Ukraine after re-establishing diplomatic relations this week, Russia says.ABC News - 4d -
Monday Briefing: Conservatives Near Victory in Germany
Plus, a pharaoh’s tomb was unearthed.The New York Times - 3d -
As Trump sows doubt, U.S. NATO commander oversees war games near Ukraine
Trump appears to pivot away from Ukraine and America's NATO allies, as the alliance rehearses for a theoretical invasion of Europe.CBS News - 5d
More from The Guardian
-
Israel releases some Palestinian prisoners after Hamas returns bodies of four hostages
Gaza ceasefire appears to hold, though it remains unclear whether exchange would include all 602 Palestinian prisoners who were due for release on Saturday. See all our Middle East coverage ...The Guardian - 2h -
Trump says no significant security guarantees in Ukraine minerals deal
President says Volodymyr Zelenskyy will visit White House to sign ‘very big agreement’, but details remain unclear. Donald Trump has announced that Volodymyr Zelenskyy will visit the White House on ...The Guardian - 10h -
Trump’s first full cabinet meeting celebrates government-shrinking effort led by Musk
Tech billionaire, who is not a member of the cabinet and described himself as ‘humble tech support’, warns without evidence that US could ‘go bankrupt’. US politics live – latest updates ...The Guardian - 10h -
Michelle Trachtenberg, Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Gossip Girl actor, dies aged 39
The actor was found at a New York apartment on Wednesday, with the cause of death unknown but not being treated as suspicious. Michelle Trachtenberg: a life in pictures The actor Michelle ...The Guardian - 9h -
Satellite image captures three tropical cyclones spinning in the South Pacific at once
Tropical cyclones Rae, Seru and Alfred are churning as the region’s season reaches its peak . Three tropical cyclones are churning in the South Pacific at the same time, satellite images show, in ...The Guardian - 30m
More in World
-
Hong Kong stock exchange reports record profits after China stimulus
Listings and trading fees jumped in 2024 after Beijing’s moves to boost marketsFinancial Times - 20m -
UK’s Leading Management Consultants 2025: the ratings
Consultancies recommended by clients and peers, rated by sectors and servicesFinancial Times - 22m -
The savage suburbia of Helen Garner: ‘I wanted to dong Martin Amis with a bat’
Over 50 years, she has become one of the most revered writers in Australia. Is she finally going to get worldwide recognition?. In early January, the Australian author Helen Garner decided to cut ...The Guardian - 28m -
Merz’s all-male team photo revives question of gender equality in Germany
Image posted on social media rekindles idea that prospective new chancellor has a Frauenproblem . Six beaming election winners huddled around a table and not a woman among them: a viral social ...The Guardian - 28m -
Berkshire Hathaway liquidates holdings in S&P 500 ETFs
Disclosures indicate its holdings in SPY and VOO were dissolved in fourth quarter of 2024Financial Times - 28m