After clinging for more than seven months to a gradually shrinking area, Ukraine has seen its position worsen sharply in the past week.

A Ukrainian serviceman patrols a street next to buildings damaged during fighting between Ukrainian and Russian forces in the Ukrainian-controlled town of Sudzha in Russia's Kursk region, August 16, 2024.

Moscow’s military advances on the town of Sudzha may deprive Kyiv of a bargaining chip in peace talks. Russian forces have begun an assault on the town of Sudzha, the main population center in the Kursk region that was captured by Ukraine last year,

Officials from across Europe and the United States awaited the Kremlin’s response to a proposed 30-day cease-fire endorsed by Ukraine.

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Russian ballistic missiles killed at least five civilians in Ukraine, officials said Wednesday, a day after the Trump administration lifted its suspension of military aid for Kyiv’s fight against Russia’s invasion and Ukrainian officials signaled they were open to a 30-day ceasefire.

The ball is now in Russia’s court. But Russia excels at grabbing the ball, pocketing it and debating the rules of the game before claiming the ball has in fact been stolen clean from them by the other team.

The prospects for a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine "is in Moscow's hands," a top aide to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said following talks with the U.S.