Russia has tried to get concessions from Ukraine for this region but this would mean Kyiv giving up its Fortress Belt, the fortified defensive line which is the backbone of Ukraine’s defenses and Zelensky’s comments reiterated this as a non-starter.

Washington and Kyiv appear to have made notable shifts to secure progress, but big questions remain, not least whether Moscow will once again reject making concessions.

The United States is preparing a further round of sanctions on Russia's energy sector to increase the pressure on Moscow should President Vladimir Putin reject a peace agreement with Ukraine, Bloomberg News reported on Wednesday,

Much of Ukraine’s largest Black Sea port was without power, heat and water on Saturday after strikes from Russia, which has shown little appetite for a deal to end the war.

Ukraine’s leader said Wednesday he anticipates handing over a revised peace proposal to the US “in the near future.”

U.S. role in peace meeting ‘up in the air,’ Zelensky reported ready to accept a DMZ, SOUTHCOM admiral retires early, top commander defends Guard deployments.