Russia said that its forces had taken full control of the Luhansk region in eastern Ukraine, according to state media.
More than 99 per cent of Luhansk has long been under Russian control. The region is one of four Ukrainian regions Russia claimed as its own in 2022 – a move rejected by Kyiv and Western allies as an illegal land grab.
The defence ministry added its troops had also taken the village of Verkhnya Pysarivka in Ukraine’s Kharkiv region and Boikove in the Zaporizhzhia region.
The battlefield claims could not be independently verified.
It comes as Vladimir Putin stepped up pressure on Volodymyr Zelensky, demanding Ukraine immediately withdraw from the remaining territory it controls in Donetsk in exchange for ending the ‘hot phase’ of the war.
The Russian ruler authorised his spokesman Dmitry Peskov to publicly insist on Ukraine’s capitulation.
‘In theory, Zelensky should have made this decision yesterday,’ declared Peskov.
‘As we said, he should have taken responsibility and made this difficult decision.
‘This could save the lives of many people, and most importantly, it could allow us to stop the hot phase of this war.’
Firefighters work at the site a Russian drone strike, amid Russia’s attack on Ukraine, in Lutsk, Ukraine April 1
Firefighters work at the site of a postal distribution centre of Nova Post company hit by a Russian drone strike, amid Russia’s attack on Ukraine, in Lutsk, Ukraine, April 1
Pictured: Smoke billows into the sky following a Russian drone strike in Lutsk, Ukraine on April 1
Ukraine is refusing to surrender the remaining one-fifth of Donbas it controls, believing Putin will simply use this as a springboard to invade further, now or later, not only in Ukraine but perhaps in Europe
The Putin threat was in response to Zelensky revealing that the Kremlin had given Ukraine a two-month deadline to withdraw its troops from Donbas – comprising Donetsk and Luhansk regions – or face tougher terms in any potential peace agreement.
Peskov said the Americans cannot be involved currently in a peace deal because they are ‘dealing with the situation in the Middle East’.
‘As for two months, it’s not a matter of two months. Zelensky must make a decision today for Ukrainian troops to leave Donbas.
‘And leave, go beyond the administrative borders of the Donetsk People’s Republic. This has been stated repeatedly.’
Ukraine is refusing to surrender the remaining one-fifth of Donbas it controls, believing Putin will simply use this as a springboard to invade further, now or later, not only in Ukraine but perhaps in Europe.
‘We are ready for a ceasefire where we stand,’ said Zelensky.
‘This is a strong compromise position to move towards a diplomatic solution.’
Russia could agree to this and stop the four year war immediately.
Putin refuses this because he fears it will publicly humiliate him and his army for being unable to make significant gains against a much smaller Ukraine.
The US has been seeking an end of the war in Ukraine but trilateral talks are on pause amid the conflict in the Gulf.
‘For obvious reasons, they cannot be actively involved in the trilateral negotiations on Ukrainian affairs at this time,’ said Peskov, as he demanded Zelensky caves in and cedes territory as the price of ending the war.
Putin started occupying the Donbas in 2014, but has failed in 12 years to grab the entire region.
