Russia claims to have taken another eastern city of Ukraine – Irvine Times

Ukrainian officials did not immediately comment on the Russian request.

A Ukrainian officer in a brigade on the outskirts of Toretsk called into question the Russian statement.

Yuven Alhimov, the press officer of the 28th Brigade, told the Associated Press on the phone that his department had not been moved from his position, which he said would probably happen if Toretk had fallen.

The much larger army of Russia held a long year-round campaign along the Eastern Front, gradually loosening luck and the tired huts of the Ukrainian forces of its fortresses as the war approaches its fourth year later this month.

The losses coincide with uncertainty whether the US will continue to provide vital military assistance. President Donald Trump, who says he makes US interests his priority, said he wants to end the war, even though his plans to secure peace are unclear.

Toretsk’s claim, if confirmed, would have progressed through the Donetsk, which cost Moscow a lot in troops and armor, but paid dividends for the Kremlin.

In the offensive, Russian forces crush the settlements with a brute force of 3000-pound (1300-pound) sliding bombs, artillery, rockets and drones, and then send to infantry parts to attack open defenders.

So far this year, Kurahs has been the first significant city to capitulate under pressure from Russia after the Russian forces conquered Avdiva and Vuhdar last year. The Russian forces last month also took Velka Novoska in the same area.

The cities were part of a belt of Ukrainian defenses to the east. The other goals of Russia are the main logistics center of Pokrovsk and the strategically important city of Chassiv Yar.

Russia seeks to take control of all parts of Donetsk and neighboring Luhansk, which together make up the Industrial Region of Ukraine Donbass.

Russia Accelerated Its Destruction of Ukraine’s Front-Line Cities in 2024 to A Scale Prevously Unseen in the War, Using the Glide Bombs and An Expanding Network of Airstrips, Accredit Atellite Imagery, Ukrainian Documents and Russian photos.

Meanwhile, the main international forum for the drumming weapon and ammunition for Ukraine will first meet under the auspices of a country other than the United States, as uncertainty circumvents the future of Washington’s support for the war -torn country.

Ukraine Defense Contact Group, a consortium of about 50 partner countries, was collected by then -US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin to coordinate support for weapons in the months after Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022.

President Donald Trump expressed skepticism to support Ukraine by criticizing his President Volodimir Zelenski and saying last month that his administration had already conducted “very serious” discussions with Russia to end the conflict.

The United Kingdom convenes the 26th meeting of the NATO Componance Group Wednesday in Brussels.

The meeting is aimed at discussing “The priorities for Ukraine, as the international community continues to work together to support Ukraine in his fight against (Russian President Vladimir) at Putin’s illegal invasion,” the United Station Ministry said Kingdom in a statement published on Thursday.

For the first time, a country other than the United States has convened the forum, although the successor of G -n Austin, Pete Heget, is planned to participate. It was not clear immediately whether the United Kingdom convened the meeting on its own initiative or whether Washington had asked for it.

A senior US official said: “We appreciate the UK leadership to convene the 50 countries participating in this forum. The union and partner sharing of gravity remains crucial to helping peace in Ukraine. “

The employee spoke on condition of anonymity as they were not authorized to talk to the media.

The United States is the largest single foreign contribution of military assistance to Ukraine, providing about 30% of Ukraine’s weapons, as much as the 27 European Union members that they have taken together.

Kathleen Burke, Professor of History of Emerit at London University College, told the Associated Press that if the United States has asked the UK to chair the Western supporters of Ukraine, it seems to me that the separation has already begun. “

Ukrainian President Volodimir Zelenski attended the last meeting in January, as the Biden administration rushed to provide its country to its country as much military support, including a new package of weapons of $ 500 million (£ 400 million) and relaxing restrictions on missile He hit Russia.

The goal was to put Ukraine in the strongest position for future negotiations to end the war.

In June last year, NATO Ministers approved a permanent system to provide reliable long -term security and military training for Ukraine after delaying Western supplies of funds, weapons and ammunition helped in the invasion of Russian forces to seize the battlefield initiative.

NATO security assistance and training for Ukraine (NSATU), which started working in December, was described as a way of “Trump resistance” NATO for Ukraine, referring to concern that Mr Trump could withdraw US support for Kiev S

NSATU, which is headquartered in an American military base in Wiesbaden, Germany, was publicly represented by NATO officials as a system to supplement, not replace the contact group.