The enemy, trying to advance on this front, is suffering significant losses in personnel and equipment."Finnish geopolitical analyst Joni Askola told Newsweek: "This is not a breakthrough, nor is it close to a collapse of the front—at least not yet.

Any peace deal that would see Ukraine cede territory to Russia in hopes of ending the war would be deeply unpopular with the Ukrainian people. It would also be illegal under the country’s constitution.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy has rejected what he says is Vladimir Putin's proposal to hand Russia the Donbas in exchange for a ceasefire. Meanwhile, the White House has distanced Donald Trump from expectations he could make a deal with Putin.