Russian President Vladimir Putin set new directives regarding combat operations in Ukraine during a recent meeting with military leaders. This was reported by Zamin.uz.
He emphasized the necessity to continue attacks aimed at capturing the city of Zaporizhzhia. According to Putin, this direction holds strategic importance for Russia, and military operations must proceed according to plan.
After listening to the report from Mikhail Teplinsky, commander of the "Dnepr" group, Putin noted the need to increase pressure on the Zaporizhzhia front in cooperation with the "Vostok" group. Additionally, the Russian leader outlined long-term measures to strengthen security in regions bordering Ukraine.
Specifically, the creation of a "security zone" in the Sumy and Kharkiv regions is planned to continue until 2026. This statement also attracted significant attention on the international stage.
Following a meeting with Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy, U.S. President Donald Trump expressed his belief that Putin intends to stop the war. At the same time, Trump acknowledged understanding Russia's decision not to immediately cease combat operations.
He also reminded that Moscow is ready to assist in Ukraine's reconstruction. According to Reuters, Russian forces aim to gain full control over the Zaporizhzhia region and have been given strict orders not to halt military actions in this regard.
Currently, Russian forces are reported to be located approximately 15 kilometers from the city of Zaporizhzhia. Before the war began, nearly 700,000 people lived in the city.
It should be recalled that Russia declared the Zaporizhzhia region as annexed in 2022; however, this decision has been rejected by both Ukraine and the international community. Therefore, military and political tensions in this area may continue for a long time.
