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Newsweek
30-04-2025
- Politics
- Newsweek
Ukrainians Declare Victory in Battle of Pokrovsk
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Russia's battle for the eastern Ukrainian town of Pokrovsk is a "failure," according to the head of a Ukrainian think tank, after many months of bitter fighting and slow Russian gains around the settlement. Why It Matters Russia has long hoped to take the Ukrainian stronghold of Pokrovsk, but rather than attacking the settlement directly, Moscow has skirted to the south of the Donetsk town and advanced toward the border of Ukraine's neighboring Dnipropetrovsk region. Pokrovsk, a major logistics hub, has borne the brunt of the fiercest frontline clashes for much of the last year. The town has been referred to as a "fortress" settlement, key to Ukrainian defenses in the east and connected to other critical defensive cities. What To Know "We are seeing a coordinated Russian information campaign tied to their failure — the fact that they have lost the battle for Pokrovsk," Serhii Kuzan, from the Ukrainian Center for Security and Cooperation, a Ukrainian think tank, said in an interview with Ukrainian broadcaster, Radio NV. While Moscow has advanced around Pokrovsk, progress has been incremental for Russian troops and the town remains in Ukraine's hands. Ukraine has said Russia's casualty count is "many times higher" than Ukraine's around Pokrovsk. This could not be independently verified, but Russia is known for its "meat grinder" assault tactics, or overwhelming Ukrainian defenses with high numbers of troops while racking up eyewatering casualties. A Ukrainian soldier walks past damaged buildings in central Pokrovsk, the site of the heaviest battles with the Russian troops in the Donetsk region, Ukraine, Wednesday, April 23, 2025. A Ukrainian soldier walks past damaged buildings in central Pokrovsk, the site of the heaviest battles with the Russian troops in the Donetsk region, Ukraine, Wednesday, April 23, 2025. AP Photo/Michael Shtekel Kuzan said Ukraine had "properly executed" its defensive strategy for Pokrovsk, disrupting Moscow's timelines for seizing the town and "foiling their much larger offensive plans for this summer." "We disrupted their plans, and now they are falling behind their own schedules — schedules that are critical for their summer offensive campaign," Kuzan said. "They can't push us out of Donetsk Oblast because we stopped them under Pokrovsk," he added. Kyiv has warned Russia is pulling together reserve forces for a major push, while senior Ukrainian officials say Moscow launched a concerted effort in two areas of northeastern Ukraine earlier this month. Ukraine had said that it launched an incursion into Russia's Kursk region in August last year, partly to pull Russian resources away from Donetsk settlements like Pokrovsk. Russia has recently advanced along a railroad line west of the village of Shevchenko, which sits south of Pokrovsk, the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) think tank, which tracks daily changes to the frontline, said on Tuesday. Ukraine's military said early on Wednesday it had "stopped" 75 Russian attacks around Pokrovsk over the previous 24 hours, including around Shevchenko. In a later statement on Wednesday, Ukraine's top soldier, General Oleksandr Syrsky, said Russia had "significantly increased" attacks close to Pokrovsk in a bid to reach the Dnipropetrovsk region, despite announcing a unilateral ceasefire due to come into force in May. "The Russian command daily throws new units into battle, drives its soldiers to their deaths, reports on illusory successes and victories," Syrsky said. The Kremlin declared a ceasefire on Monday to observe the 80th anniversary of the Great Patriotic War. This is the term used by Russia to describe its participation in World War II after it joined the Allies in 1941, and the victory over Nazi Germany in 1945. Moscow has consistently claimed its invasion of Ukraine aimed to "de-Nazify" the country, a pretext widely rejected. Russia will not conduct any military operations between midnight on May 8 and midnight on May 11, the Kremlin said, adding that "Russia believes that the Ukrainian side should follow this example." The announcement was greeted with skepticism by Ukraine. Russia's Defense Ministry said on Wednesday its forces had seized a village in the the north of the Donetsk region. Newsweek could not independently verify this. What People Are Saying The Russian government said on Wednesday: "As a result of active offensive actions, units of the West military group liberated the settlement of Novoye in the Donetsk People's Republic." Syrsky said on Wednesday: "Despite loud statements about readiness for a ceasefire for the May holidays, the occupiers have significantly increased the intensity of hostilities, focusing their main efforts on the Pokrovsk direction." What Happens Next It is not clear yet if and how the failure to capture Pokrovsk will affect Russia's alleged plans for a new summer offensive, where Moscow allegedly hopes to deploy troops on motorcycles to counter Ukraine's drones.
Time of India
30-04-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
What Ukrainians think about Trump's peace plan
What Ukrainians think about Trump's peace plan US President Donald Trump is urging Ukraine to make major concessions to end the war with Russia. Many Ukrainians reject his proposal. What do analysts have to say about the US peace plan? Is US President Donald Trump's proposal for a peaceful end to the Ukraine conflict too Russia friendly? Axios news platform and other Western media outlets report that Trump's peace plan entails US recognition of Moscow's de jure control over Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula — which was annexed by Russia — as well as recognizing Moscow's de facto occupation of parts of Ukraine's Luhansk, Donetsk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions. Trump's proposal also includes a promise that Ukraine will not become a Nato member but may possibly join the EU. It also envisions lifting sanctions imposed on Russia since 2014, as well as boosting economic cooperation with the US, particularly in the energy and industrial sectors. According to Axios, Trump's plan involves freezing Ukrainian frontlines and granting Ukraine security guarantees. So far, however, no details have been given as to what these guarantees would entail. Ukraine will be offered the return of a small part of the Russian-occupied Kharkiv region and will be granted unhindered passage along the Dnipro River, which runs along Ukraine's southern frontline. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Free Lasik Consultation @ The Eye Foundation Bangalore The Eye Foundation Book Now Undo What is Ukraine's actual situation? Serhii Kuzan, who heads the Ukrainian Center for Security and Cooperation think tank, told DW Ukraine's outlook is not as bad as Trump thinks. "The Ukrainian armed forces are achieving tactical successes in certain sections along the front, the country's arms industry is growing, and Ukraine's European partners are backing and supporting it even more. Our situation is much better than it was a year ago." Even so, Kuzan conceded that Russia had also achieved tactical battlefield successes, made some advances and captured a few small Ukrainian towns in the east of the country. Yet none of this, Kuzan said, was of strategic importance. "Russian claims that our defense is collapsing and that they will occupy the whole of Ukraine is wishful thinking," Kuzan told DW. "They simply do not have the reserves for that." Hanna Shelest of the Ukrainian Prism think tank Prism believes that whenever US President Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff returns from Moscow, he does so with a "Russian version of reality" according to which Russia is stronger and can continue the war for longer than Ukraine, which is supposedly weak and not needed by anybody. "That's why Trump is firmly convinced he's doing something good for Ukraine," Shelest told DW. For this same reason she urges anyone visiting the White House and meeting Trump to explain Ukraine's perspective to him. What does the future hold for Ukraine? Observers agree that Trump's proposals to legally recognize Crimea as Russian territory will be widely rejected. The situation is more complicated when it comes to barring Ukraine from joining Nato. "Pressure will be exerted on Ukraine to dissuade it from joining Nato," Shelest told DW. "It would be best for us if this question remained open. If it were not clearly stated that Ukraine has a right to join Nato, then one could unofficially promise Ukraine membership, which would not happen immediately. The political situation in Washington and Moscow, after all, could also change at some point." Ukrainian political scientist Volodymyr Fesenko, meanwhile, believes that the US is on the wrong track because it is pressuring Ukraine to make significant concessions. At the same time, the US is accommodating Russia, even though both warring parties appear equally strong on the frontlines, Fesenko says, regardless of what Trump thinks. As the US has so far failed to force Ukraine into an unfavorable peace agreement, Washington could try to take a break from negotiations until a more favorable moment arises, Fesenko says. "That's bad for us, but definitely not any worse than recognizing Crimea as Russian, because what would follow would be even worse: further regions and demands." Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko, meanwhile, told the BBC that Ukraine may need to cede territory. "There is a lot of discussion about a possible settlement," Klitschko told the outlet. "One of the scenarios is the cession of territory. That is unfair. But for the sake of peace, a temporary peace, this could perhaps be a temporary solution." Klitschko also said Ukrainian President Zelensky may be "forced to make a painful decision" as US President Trump increases the pressure on Ukraine.
Asia Times
04-03-2025
- Business
- Asia Times
With US military aid cut, Ukraine prepares to fight alone
'If we are not invited to NATO, we must build NATO on our territory,' Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in an interview with The Economist published February 12, before his now historic White House showdown with Donald Trump. His remarks came in response to prior signals from the Trump administration that Ukraine would not be joining the security alliance. After the Oval Office spat, and the news now that Trump is cutting off all military aid to Ukraine, imposing costs on Russia independent of Western supplies is even more important. Since 2022, Ukraine has steadily expanded its ability to strike deep into Russian territory, refining its long-range capabilities in the process. In his New Year's address, Zelensky highlighted these efforts, stating that Ukraine now produces over a million drones annually while ramping up missile manufacturing, calling them Ukraine's 'arguments for a just peace.' Now as Ukraine enters its fourth year of war, long-range strike capabilities have become a cornerstone of its defense strategy. They are central to its effort to build NATO within its own borders. While Western military aid remains critical, Kyiv's ability to produce its own missiles is emerging as a key pillar of deterrence and a way to impose greater costs on the Kremlin. This shift in focus is also evident from Ukraine's Western partners as Sweden's latest US$1.2 billion military aid package earmarked $90 million for Ukraine's missile and drone production. This capacity will be put to the test with Trump's withdrawal of US military assistance. Ukraine has concentrated its attacks on Russia's energy infrastructure, particularly oil refineries – the backbone of Moscow's war effort. Drone and missile strikes have by some estimates already knocked out 10% of Russia's refining capacity, exposing the Kremlin's vulnerability as it remains deeply reliant on oil revenues to sustain its war effort. Four major Russian oil refineries have suspended operations following Ukrainian drone attacks just in the past month. Repeated strikes over the past year have pushed Russia's average daily crude oil production to a 20-year low, while also helping bring Russia's refining capacity to its lowest level in 12 years. Ukraine has expanded its targeting beyond refineries to oil transport hubs, explosives factories, and ammunition depots. Serhii Kuzan, chairman of the Ukrainian Security and Cooperation Center and a former adviser to Ukraine's Ministry of Defense, in an interview highlighted the broader impact of these strikes, noting that 'Russia's oil industry is a crucial pillar of its economy – oil and petroleum products account for the bulk of its exports.' Kuzan added that disrupting Russia's refining capacity drives up domestic fuel prices, increasing economic strain and potentially public discontent. While Moscow has found ways to circumvent Western sanctions, Kuzan noted that it has no effective countermeasure against Ukraine's evolving drone capabilities. Each successful strike erodes Russia's war economy, making it harder to maintain supply chains, sustain mobilization and manage domestic stability, he said. The pressure is mounting. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, speaking after the opening of peace talks with the US, condemned Ukraine's drone attacks on the Caspian Pipeline Consortium, stating: 'This should reinforce the view that Zelensky and his team must be restrained and have their hands tied.' Ukraine's drone campaign is likely to intensify as the US backs away from its war effort. A Ukrainian drone unit commander who is leading these strikes explained to this writer that his unit's primary goal is to disrupt logistics hubs, destroy ammunition warehouses and ease pressure on the front lines. With drones now capable of reaching 2,000 kilometers (1,240 miles), Ukraine can now hit deep inside Russia – an ability that continues to grow. With limited supplies of Western long-range missiles, such as ATACMS and Storm Shadow, Ukraine has prioritized rebuilding its domestic production. As a result, Kyiv has set an ambitious goal: producing 3,000 long-range missiles by the end of 2025. Vice Prime Minister Mykhailo Fedorov has doubled down this commitment, declaring that '2025 will be the year of the Ukrainian cruise missile.' Obviously, missile production is inherently more complex than drone manufacturing. While Ukraine has successfully scaled up drone production, missile development requires specialized production lines, precision engineering and secure manufacturing facilities – all difficult to establish in wartime. But despite wartime conditions, Ukraine has made significant progress in developing its own weapons. Several domestically produced systems are now in deployment. For instance, the Neptune, originally an anti-ship missile, was repurposed as the land-launched cruise missile that reportedly sank Russia's Moskva missile cruiser in 2022. The Hrim-2, a hypersonic ballistic missile, reportedly passed testing in late 2024, while the Palianytsia, a missile-drone hybrid, entered serial production in December. The Ukrainian military has also recently received its first batch of Peklo (a Ukrainian word for 'hell') missile drones, long-range munitions with a 700-km range and a jet engine reaching 700 km/h. Developed by Ukroboronprom in under a year, they are already in combat use and reportedly rival Russian cruise missiles at a fraction of the cost. Further expanding its arsenal, Kyiv unveiled the Trembita light cruise missile in February. Designed for deep strikes, Trembita offers a low-cost alternative to Western munitions at just $4,000 per unit. Ukraine's Defense Minister Rustem Umerov has called domestic missile production essential for strategic independence, stating: 'Our priority is the development of domestic drones and long-range weapons, including ballistic missiles.' With US military aid now cut, EU assistance levels uncertain and NATO membership out of reach, Ukraine's path to building a stronger domestic deterrent against Russia depends on expanding its missile and drone production. After surrendering its nuclear arsenal under the 1994 Budapest Memorandum – with security assurances from Russia, the US and the UK – Ukraine was also left outside NATO's protection in the decades that followed. Now, Kyiv must focus on developing a long-range strike capability to raise the cost of war for Moscow. By producing its own arsenal, Ukraine can deal with US military cuts and external restrictions on weapon use to ensure it has the firepower to strike where and when it wants in Russia – and on its own terms. Ukrainian-American frontline reporter-activist and security engineer David Kirichenko is an associate research fellow at the Henry Jackson Society, a London-based think tank. He is on Twitter/X @DVKirichenko .
