Ukrainian authorities on Thursday ordered the evacuation of children and their families in several localities in the Kharkiv region, in the northeast of the country, facing the risk of strikes and the continued advance of Russian troops.
In Moscow, the Kremlin said it was ready for a dialogue “in mutual respect” with American President Donald Trump, who threatened new sanctions if Russia does not conclude an agreement with Ukraine to end the war launched almost three years ago.
Since his re-election, Russia, Ukraine and their allies have been waiting to see what position the unpredictable American leader will adopt, particularly on crucial military aid for Ukraine, especially since he boasts of having a good relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Ukraine fears being pushed to the negotiating table in an unfavorable position, because it is struggling on the front, and of being forced to cede its territories occupied by Russia.
Illustration of these difficulties, the governor of the Kharkiv region, Oleg Synegoubov, announced Thursday that “267 children and their families must be evacuated from 16 localities” close to the front line.
This decision is due to “the intensification of enemy bombardments”, he added.
The area concerned is close to the city of Kupiansk, occupied by Moscow forces from the first days of the war, then recaptured by the Ukrainian army in the fall of 2022.
Russian troops, better armed and more numerous than Ukrainian soldiers, are now very close.
An important railway hub, this city is crossed by the Oskil River, which further north has become the front line between Russian and Ukrainian troops.
In the Donetsk region, Russian soldiers are also at the gates of Pokrovsk, an important town for the logistics of the Ukrainian army, and seem on the way to seizing the stronghold of Chassiv Yar.
These towns, like many others, were emptied of their residents as the fighting approached, transforming their streets into deserted fields of ruins.
In this part of the front, the Russian thrust continues westwards, towards the Dnipropetrovsk region.
The village of Soloné, just eight kilometers as the crow flies from the border of this region, is now under Russian control, the Defense Ministry in Moscow said on Thursday.
“NOW”
Donald Trump, who has repeatedly praised his ability to quickly end the Russian invasion, on Wednesday threatened Russia with new sanctions if it did not conclude an agreement with Ukraine “now”.
The spokesperson for the Russian presidency, Dmitri Peskov, said Thursday that he saw “nothing particularly new” in the billionaire’s comments.
| © AFP/Archives -Photo combination created on November 7, 2024, showing US President Donald Trump (left) on October 15 in Cumming, United States, and Russian President Vladimir Putin (right) in Kazan, Russia on October 24, 2024 |
He nevertheless assured that Moscow remained ready “for dialogue on an equal footing and with mutual respect”.
“During his first presidency, there was such a dialogue between Putin and him,” said the Russian spokesperson, according to whom the Kremlin is still waiting for “signals” in this direction from the White House.
Both Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin have said they are ready to talk, without ever giving a date.
The spokesperson for Russian diplomacy, Maria Zakharova, for her part called on Thursday the administration of the new president to “correct” the errors of his predecessor Joe Biden in Ukraine.
Unclear intentions
Former General Keith Kellogg, appointed by Donald Trump as envoy in charge of the file, demanded several concessions from kyiv.
Mr. Trump’s return to power is seen as a potential turning point for the conflict, although his intentions remain unclear.
| © AFP Matryoshkas, traditional Russian nesting dolls, display portraits of Russian President Vladimir Putin, US President Donald Trump and his wife Melania Trump, in a souvenir store in Moscow, January 20, 2025 |
The United States is Ukraine’s primary military supporter. Donald Trump criticized this aid during his campaign, but since his inauguration he has not made it clear whether he intends to maintain it or end it.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, in a publication on Telegram on Thursday summarizing an interview with the Bloomberg agency, made obtaining real guarantees from his allies a condition for the talks.
“The question is whether Ukraine will be alone (…) or whether Ukraine will be with its allies,” he said.
Volodymyr Zelensky notably mentioned earlier this week the presence of a contingent of Western troops in the event of a truce.
Russian strikes, almost daily in Ukraine, also left at least three dead and around fifty injured on Thursday in three regions of the country, according to local authorities.
