Ukrainian forces are engaged in fierce combat to repel a Russian attempt to break through defensive lines in the north-eastern Sumy region, military officials stated on Sunday. The fighting marks a significant escalation in an area that has seen little ground conflict since Ukrainian troops reclaimed territory there in 2022.
Ground Fighting and Alleged Abductions
The Ukrainian joint taskforce confirmed that battles are currently ongoing in the border village of Grabovske. The military's stated objective is to drive invading troops back across the Russian border. Ukrainian authorities have also denied media reports suggesting Russian soldiers had entered the neighbouring settlement of Ryasne.
In a disturbing development, Ukraine's human rights ombudsman reported that Russian troops had forcibly moved approximately 50 people from Grabovske into Russian territory. Moscow has not officially commented on these allegations. This incident follows the Russian military's claim on Saturday to have captured the village of Vysoke, located a short distance from the current fighting.
Diplomatic Moves and Stalled Negotiations
Separately, diplomatic efforts to end the conflict saw mixed signals over the weekend. US and Ukrainian envoys issued a joint statement describing three days of talks in Miami, Florida, as "productive and constructive." The discussions involved Donald Trump's special envoy, Steve Witkoff, and Ukraine's top negotiator, Rustem Umerov.
However, no major breakthrough was announced. Witkoff emphasised that the shared priority was to stop the violence and create conditions for Ukraine's long-term security and recovery. Meanwhile, the Kremlin flatly denied that any three-way negotiations involving Ukraine, Russia, and the United States were being prepared, despite Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy mentioning the proposed format.
Intelligence Warnings and European Concerns
Amid the fighting and diplomacy, US intelligence reports continue to warn that Vladimir Putin has not abandoned his maximalist goals in Ukraine. According to sources familiar with the intelligence, these reports, the most recent from late September, indicate Putin still aims to control all of Ukraine and reclaim parts of Europe that were once part of the Soviet empire.
This assessment directly contradicts the Russian leader's public denials of being a threat to Europe. Mike Quigley, a Democratic member of the US House intelligence committee, told Reuters that the intelligence consistently shows "Putin wants more," a view he said is strongly held by Eastern European nations like Poland and the Baltic states.
Russia has also criticised efforts by European and Ukrainian officials to amend US peace proposals, with a senior Kremlin aide, Yuri Ushakov, stating such changes could prolong the conflict rather than bring a swift resolution.
