Ukraine claims to push back Russian troops in part of Sumy front

(Patria) - The Ukrainian army said on Saturday it had pushed back Russian forces by about two kilometres in part of the Sumy front in northern Ukraine, Reuters reported last night.

There was no immediate comment from Russia, which controls just over 200 square kilometres in the region, according to the Ukrainian battlefield mapping project DeepState.

"Ukrainian soldiers continue active combat operations to destroy the enemy and liberate our settlements," the Ukrainian General Staff wrote on Facebook.

It added that fighting raged near the villages of Oleksiivka and Yunakivka, located 5 km and 7 km from the Russian border, respectively.

This has gained political significance in recent days, as Kyiv finds itself at a new important diplomatic crossroads, with US President Donald Trump intensifying efforts to mediate an end to the war.

The US leader said that he and Russian leader Vladimir Putin "decided" there should be no ceasefire and that they would now focus on a swift agreement to end the war that has raged since 2022.

Russian troops earlier this week advanced up to 10 km near Dobropillia in eastern Ukraine, sparking fears of a broader breakthrough that could further threaten key cities.

The Ukrainian army later said it had managed to halt the attack and push the Russians back.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy described the Russian offensive as a failed attempt by Moscow to show strength on the battlefield ahead of a Putin-Trump summit in Alaska on Friday. In a statement on Saturday, he predicted more such efforts.

"We expect that the Russian army will try to increase pressure and strikes on Ukrainian positions in the coming days to create more favourable political circumstances for talks," he said.