Ukrainian forces have significantly ramped up their counteroffensive after regaining previously lost ground from Russian troops. Recently, they succeeded in liberating several small settlements in the Zaporizhzhia region, where Russia had focused on expanding its influence in recent weeks.
According to the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), the main Ukrainian advances have been recorded about 80 kilometers east of the city of Zaporizhzhia. Russia has been trying to strengthen its influence here since the summer of 2025.
Besides progress in the south, Ukrainian units have also reclaimed territory in the northeast and east of Ukraine, especially around the frontlines of Kharkiv, Kostiantynivka, Pokrovsk, and Novopavlivka. Ukraine is pressing on while Russian troops are stalling their attacks.
The ISW reports that Ukraine's counterattacks likely benefit from recent restrictions placed on Russian troops' access to Starlink. This strategic limitation may have increased the effectiveness of Ukrainian operations.
Air Strikes
Meanwhile, new diplomatic efforts are underway in Geneva, where Ukraine and Russia have gathered for a second round of talks. This American mediation aims to resolve disputes related to territorial issues.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has expressed concerns about the pressure being exerted on his country to make concessions. Russia demands that Ukraine relinquish the remaining 20% of the Donetsk region.
The situation is complicated by recent heavy Russian air strikes on Ukrainian infrastructure, causing significant damage to energy supplies, especially in the port city of Odesa. These attacks have left thousands without heating and water during the winter.
Negotiations
Ukrainian and Russian negotiators met Tuesday in Geneva for two days of US-mediated peace talks focusing on the main sticking point: territory. US President Donald Trump is urging Kyiv to quickly reach an agreement.
Trump is pressuring Moscow and Kyiv to finalize a deal that would end the largest war in Europe since 1945, although Zelenskiy has complained that his country faces the greatest pressure to make concessions. Both Ukrainian and Russian negotiators have previously described the talks as constructive, but reaching concrete solutions on underlying issues including borders and security guarantees remains a challenge.