Russia says it captured two villages in Ukraine's Donetsk region

MOSCOW - Russia on Aug 23 said its forces in east Ukraine had taken two villages in the Donetsk region, upping military pressure on the ground as world leaders struggle to broker an end to the conflict.

Russian forces are slowly advancing in the embattled eastern region, grinding closer to Kyiv’s key defensive line in costly metre-for-metre battles.

Moscow’s defence ministry said on Telegram that Russian forces captured the villages of Sredneye and Kleban-Byk.

The taking of Kleban-Byk would mark a further advance towards Kostiantynivka – a key fortified town on the road to Kramatorsk, where a major Ukrainian logistics base is located.

On Aug 22, Russia said its troops had captured three villages in the Donetsk region it claimed to have annexed in September 2022.

The latest Russian advances come as

hopes dim for a summit

between Russian and Ukrainian presidents – a solution campaigned for by US President Donald Trump as part of his efforts to end the conflict.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Aug 22 that

“no meeting” was planned

as Mr Trump’s mediation efforts appeared to stall, while Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Russia was trying to prolong the offensive.

Also on Aug 22, Mr Trump told reporters he would make an “important” decision in two weeks on Ukraine peace efforts, specifying that

Moscow could face massive sanctions

– or he might “do nothing”. AFP