Ukraine and its allies have agreed to start preparing a ceasefire plan within the next 10 days, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said, following US President Donald Trump’s proposal to stop the war along existing front lines.
“A few quick points, like the ceasefire plan. We decided to work on that in the next week or 10 days,” Axios quoted Zelensky as saying.
The Ukrainian leader said Kiev, in part to increase pressure on Moscow, was pressing Washington to provide Tomahawk missiles.
Sharpened battles in Donetsk
Ukrainian officials said Russian forces renewed their push to capture the key transport hub of Pokrovsk in the Donetsk region.
“The occupiers who entered the city are not trying to take control, but intend to advance further north,” the 7th rapid reaction unit of the Ukrainian Airborne Forces posted on Facebook.
“At the same time, the enemy wants to disperse our defense forces and block land logistics corridors.”
Zelenskyy warned that Russian forces were concentrating their “main strike force” on the city.
“There is fierce fighting in the city and on the approaches to the city. Logistics are difficult. But we must continue to destroy the occupiers,” he said.
Citing Ukrainian intelligence, he added that President Vladimir Putin had privately claimed that Russia would conquer all of Donbas by October 15.
Nuclear missile test raises tensions
The development comes days after Russia tested its Burevestnik missile, a nuclear-capable cruise weapon that President Putin said could evade existing missile defense systems. NATO calls this system Skyfall.
US President Donald Trump criticized the missile test as “inappropriate” and called on Moscow to prioritize ending the war.
“He should end the war. A war that was supposed to last one week is now in its fourth year. That’s what he should be doing instead of testing missiles,” Trump told reporters on Air Force One, according to AFP.
Moscow defends the weapons program
The Kremlin said the test underscored Russia’s commitment to its own security amid escalating Western pressure.
“Russia is consistently working to ensure its own security,” spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.
“Ensuring security is vital for Russia, especially against the background of militaristic sentiments that we hear mainly from Europeans at the moment.”
Putin appeared on video wearing military overalls as he was briefed, claiming the missile had flown 14,000 kilometers in its latest test.
