In a significant military development, Russia announced on Sunday that its forces have seized control of three additional villages in eastern Ukraine. This advance occurs amidst high-stakes international diplomacy, as US, Ukrainian, and European officials convened in Geneva to deliberate on a contentious American proposal to end the nearly four-year-long conflict.
Details of the Territorial Gains
According to a statement from Moscow’s defence ministry, Russian troops successfully captured Petrivske in the Donetsk region, along with the villages of Tikhe and Otradne in the Dnipropetrovsk region. This latest push is part of a sustained offensive on the eastern front, where Russian soldiers have been making steady progress. Kyiv's forces are reportedly scrambling to defend key strongholds in the area against the relentless advance.
The Geneva Talks and Trump's Peace Plan
The timing of these territorial gains is critical, as they come just ahead of crucial talks in Geneva focused on US President Donald Trump's proposed roadmap to peace. The 28-point plan, which has been welcomed by Russian leader Vladimir Putin, presents a series of hardline demands for Ukraine. The proposal requires the invaded nation to:
- Cede contested territory to Russia.
- Significantly reduce the size of its army.
- Formally pledge never to seek membership in NATO.
In exchange, the plan offers Kyiv Western security guarantees intended to prevent future Russian aggression. President Trump has given Ukraine until November 27 to approve the proposal, but Ukrainian officials are actively seeking changes to a draft they find deeply problematic.
International Reaction and Flaws in the Plan
The US peace initiative has not been met with universal approval. Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store, speaking to AFP on the sidelines of the G20 summit in South Africa, identified "major flaws" in the proposal. He emphasized that while US engagement is positive, the plan in its current form is insufficient.
"We need US engagement to help end the war in Ukraine and stop the Russian aggression. That is positive," Store stated. "But the plan is insufficient and it has major flaws that need to be worked on. One of them is to get Europe at the table and, not least, get Ukraine at the table."
He strongly reiterated a fundamental principle of international law, declaring that "changing borders by force is unacceptable." The Norwegian leader stressed that any final agreement must align with the principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations.
As these discussions unfold, the situation on the ground remains volatile. President Putin has indicated that the US plan could "lay the foundation" for a final settlement but has simultaneously threatened further land seizures if Ukraine walks away from the negotiating table. The outcome of the Geneva talks, involving US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and officials from Ukraine, Europe, and Canada, is being closely watched by the international community.
