Russia claims new gains; Zelenskyy says ‘committed’ to dialogue with US

Moscow has claimed new advances in the Sumy region of Ukraine and the Kursk region of Russia. Concurrently, Ukrainian President Zelenskyy stated that he is "fully committed" to constructive dialogue with U.S. representatives, preparing for upcoming talks in Saudi Arabia on how to end the Russia-Ukraine war.

U.S. and Ukrainian negotiators are scheduled to meet on Tuesday in the Red Sea city of Jeddah, as U.S. President Trump's administration strives to broker a ceasefire and develop a "framework" for a peace agreement. This meeting signifies a crucial step in the ongoing diplomatic efforts to de-escalate the conflict.

Despite the upcoming talks, the Russian Ministry of Defense stated in a briefing that its forces had "liberated" the small village of Novenkoye in the Sumy region, near the Kursk border. Moscow also announced the recapture of the villages of Lebedevka, Malaya Loknya, Cherkasskoye Polechino, and Kositsa in the Kursk region. These claims highlight the shifting dynamics on the ground.

Russia briefly occupied parts of the Sumy region of Ukraine at the beginning of its full-scale invasion in 2022, but has not held any territory in the region since. Kyiv has not commented on Russia's claim to have captured Novenkoye, which analysts believe could bring Russian forces closer to blocking a major Ukrainian supply line. The strategic implications of this potential blockade are significant.

In his nightly address on Sunday, Zelenskyy said, "I am grateful to all our soldiers who stand firm, destroy the occupiers despite all the difficulties, repel attacks and defend our positions." He added, "Diplomacy is strong only when positions at the front are strong. We are doing our best to ensure that the needs of Ukraine's front lines are met." This underscores the importance of military strength in achieving diplomatic goals.

Reportedly, after a public dispute between the U.S. White House and Zelenskyy, the U.S. cut off Ukraine's access to intelligence sharing and satellite data, as well as aid, in an attempt to force Kyiv to negotiate an end to Russia's invasion, the largest conflict in Europe since World War II. Zelenskyy angered Trump by rejecting a mineral deal, with the Ukrainian president saying that the deal should include security guarantees from the U.S. But the Trump administration refused to commit to this, instead demanding that Europe increase its aid to the war-torn country.

Meanwhile, European leaders have agreed to increase defense spending and have pledged to support Ukraine against the Russian threat. Washington has also poured cold water on Ukraine's desire to join NATO. Zelenskyy confirmed that he will visit Saudi Arabia next week, and after meeting with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on Monday, Ukrainian diplomatic and military representatives will remain to attend Tuesday's talks with the U.S.

"Ukraine has been seeking peace from the first second of this war. Realistic proposals are already on the table. The key is to act quickly and effectively," the Ukrainian president stated on X. U.S. envoy Steve Vitkov confirmed last week that he would meet with Ukrainian officials in Saudi Arabia, saying he would discuss a "preliminary ceasefire" and a "framework" for a longer-term agreement.

The U.S. State Department stated that U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio will also visit Saudi Arabia from March 10-12 to hold talks with his Ukrainian counterpart. He will also hold talks with Crown Prince Mohammed to discuss regional issues and ways to strengthen U.S.-Saudi relations. Rubio spoke with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha on Friday and said Trump wants to end the war in Ukraine as soon as possible.

This will be the first high-level gathering of U.S. and Ukrainian officials since the meeting between Zelenskyy and Trump on February 28 devolved into a quarrel and ended with the Ukrainian leader being asked to leave the White House.