Ukraine Russia war live: Putin’s forces ‘make sudden thrust’ into eastern Ukraine ahead of Alaska summit

Ukraine’s SBU intelligence agency said on Tuesday its drones hit a building containing long-range Shahed attack drones in Russia’s Tatarstan region, 1,300 km (800 miles)from Ukraine.

The SBU said this was the second such strike in four days, and that videos filmed by local residents there confirmed the facility had been hit.

Russia’s embassy in the UK has insisted the country is “open” to resolving the conflict in Ukraine through “political and diplomatic means”.

It comes after a reported surge from Russian forces near three villages on a section of the frontline associated with the Ukrainian towns of Kostyantynivka and Pokrovsk.

Earlier today, the embassy accused the UK and Europe of using Ukraine as an “anti-Russian battering ram”.

Yesterday, Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s spokesperson said the UK supported both Kyiv and the US president’s push for peace, but not Moscow.

A Ukrainian war blogger and former army officer whose Frontelligence Insight analysis tracks the war has warned Russia’s reported offensive could be a bid by Putin to “gain leverage” prior to Friday’s meeting.

Tatarigami_UA wrote on X: “This is critical. In both 2014 and 2015, Russia launched major offensives ahead of negotiations to gain leverage. The current situation is serious, but far from the collapse some suggest.”

President Zelensky has said an “imitated peace” rather than a genuine resolution “will not last for long”.

The statement follows his phone call with Turkish President Erdogan, who previously said he “welcomes” the progress in peace talks.

Posting on social media, Zelensky said he thanked the Turkish president for “supporting Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity”.

Ukraine’s military said on Tuesday afternoon that it had sent in reserves after becoming engaged in “difficult” combat near the cities of Pokrovsk and Dobropillia.

It added the soldiers had been sent to block advances by “small groups” of Russian troops.

In a statement, the General Staff said some of the groups attempting to bypass Ukraine’s defensive lines in the area had already been destroyed, and that others were being engaged by Ukrainian forces.

Smoke has been detected near a nuclear power plant in the cargo port of Zaporizhzhia, according to Ukraine’s energy ministry.

The port city, situated on the river Dnieper, lies in the southeast of the country and is home to the largest nuclear power point in Europe.

The map below from the Institute for the Study of War shows Zaporizhzhia in relation to Russian-controlled areas in red.

In a call with President Zelensky, Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan has said he welcomes the progress in peace talks.

As the pair spoke on Tuesday, he added he hoped to see “meaningful progress” toward a ceasefire, according to a statement released by the Turkish government.

The statement added Erdogan repeated an offer to host a leaders’ meeting between Russia and Ukraine.

The Russian embassy in the UK has accused the UK government of trying to “hinder a peaceful resolution”.

The post on X follows a joint statement from EU leaders on Tuesday warning that Ukraine must be involved in any peace negotiations.

It comes as Sir Keir Starmer is set to join a call with Donald Trump and EU leaders ahead of the US president’s meeting with Vladimir Putin in Alaska.

The Prime Minister reiterated his support for Ukraine on Monday, saying “any ceasefire cannot just be an opportunity for President Putin to go away, re-arm, restrengthen, and then go again”.

Responding, the Russian embassy in the UK said his statement “confirms once again the opportunistic approach of European capitals, who intend to continue exploiting Ukraine as an anti-Russian battering ram”.

Alaska’s governor Mike Dunleavy has said he welcomes an upcoming meeting between US president Donald Trump and Russia’ president held in his state.

“Alaska is the most strategic location in the world, sitting at the crossroads of North America and Asia, with the Arctic to our north and the Pacific to our south. With a mere two miles separating Russia from Alaska , no other place plays a more vital role in our national defense, energy security, and Arctic leadership.

“What happens in the Arctic and the Pacific impacts Alaska before the rest of the country. It’s fitting that discussions of global importance take place here.

“For centuries, Alaska has been a bridge between nations, and today, we remain a gateway for diplomacy, commerce, and security in one of the most critical regions on earth. The world will be watching, and Alaska stands ready to host this historic meeting.”

The Polish prime minister has said Moscow is trying to ramp up tensions between Warsaw and Kyiv after controversy over a spectator waving a Ukrainian nationalist flag at a concert in Poland’s national stadium.

Poland is a firm supporter of Ukraine, but some in the country have concerns over refugees crossing the border. Meanwhile, historical tensions between the two nations over World War Two massacres have resurfaced.

Many Poles were angered by footage shared on social media which showed an audience member at a concert in the National Stadium in Warsaw on Saturday waving the red and black flag of the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA), a nationalist group Poland says was involved in the 1943-1945 Volhynia massacres of Poles.

However, Prime Minister Donald Tusk told a government meeting that conflict between Poles and Ukrainians would be a “gift” for Putin.

“It’s truly fundamental from the perspective of Polish security that Putin not receive gifts before these talks, and such a gift for Putin would undoubtedly be conflict between Ukrainians and Poles,” Tusk said.

“This is precisely the… goal of Russian agents and Russia’s actions in Poland.”

The Russian embassy in Warsaw did not immediately respond to an emailed request for comment from Reuters press agency.