Russian President Vladimir Putin has renewed his assertion that Russia will seize full control of Ukraine's Donbas region if Kyiv's forces do not withdraw. Speaking to India Today ahead of a visit to New Delhi, Putin said 'Either we liberate these territories by force of arms, or Ukrainian troops leave these territories.' Ukraine's leadership has flatly rejected any territorial concessions.
Meanwhile, the European Commission has put forward an unprecedented proposal to tap frozen Russian assets or turn to international borrowing to fund Ukraine's military and essential public services. If approved, this move could inject billions of euros into Kyiv's war effort and civilian support programs.
On the ground, Ukrainian troops have held firm positions in the northern part of Pokrovsk in eastern Ukraine, according to Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi. Yet tens of thousands of residents in Kherson and Odesa remain without power and heating after recent night-time strikes targeted the frontline city and Ukraine's largest seaport.
Russia's Defense Ministry also reported strikes on Ukrainian transport and infrastructure hubs. Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova accused Ukraine of attacking oil tankers in the Black Sea and the Caspian Pipeline Consortium terminal in Novorossiysk in an effort to derail peace talks.
In Beijing, Chinese President Xi Jinping and French President Emmanuel Macron discussed the Ukraine-Russia conflict, as the European Union looks to the Chinese mainland for support in brokering an end to hostilities. Analysts say China's influence could be a game-changer in stalled negotiations.
Türkiye has urged all parties to protect energy infrastructure. Energy Minister Alparslan Bayraktar warned against any disruption of flows in the Black Sea region, emphasizing Ankara's role as a regional energy hub.
In Washington, a White House official confirmed that US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner would meet Ukrainian representatives in Miami. Russian state news agency RIA quoted Putin calling the visit 'very useful' for discussing de-escalation.
Deputy Security Council Chairman Dmitry Medvedev warned that any European seizure of frozen Russian assets could be viewed by Moscow as justifying an act of war. Putin, for his part, urged European nations to participate constructively in a peace settlement rather than hindering diplomatic efforts.
Data-driven insights highlight the stakes: Russia currently controls about 19.2 percent of Ukraine, including all of Luhansk, over 80 percent of Donetsk, nearly 75 percent of Kherson and Zaporizhzhia, and Crimea. Just 5,000 square kilometers of Donetsk remains under Ukrainian control.
As fierce fighting continues and global diplomacy ramps up, the battle for Donbas and the future of Ukraine hang in the balance. Young global citizens, entrepreneurs, and policy-makers alike are watching closely as financial, energy and security dynamics intersect on and off the battlefield.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
