Donald Trump’s negotiators Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner are meeting Vladimir Putin in Moscow to discuss the US plan for peace. Ahead of the visit, the Kremlin increased the stakes, claiming it had captured a key Ukrainian city. Follow the latest.
Tuesday 2 December 2025 08:34, UK
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Our military analyst Michael Clarke returns today at 1pm for another instalment of his Ukraine war Q&A, joined by presenter Kamali Melbourne.
Send us your questions in the form at the top of the page.
Ukrainian troops still have hold to the northern part of the strategic city of Pokrovsk in eastern Ukraine, the military corps fighting in the city have just said.
The 7th Rapid Response Corps of airborne assault troops said it conducted attacks in the south of the city, where Russian troops were prevailing.
Russian military commanders reported the capture of the city yesterday, with footage showing Russian soldiers in the centre – see our post at 7.24.
Vladimir Putin praised the capture as enabling the military to proceed with “offensive tasks”.
Meanwhile, this morning, Volodymyr Zelenskyy and first lady Olena Zelenska are waking up in Ireland, where he landed late last night.
They were welcomed at Dublin Airport for what is the first official visit of any Ukrainian president and first lady by Taoiseach Micheal Martin.
Zelenskyy and Martin are also expected to discuss efforts to “bring just and lasting peace to Ukraine” and how Ireland may contribute to strengthening Kyiv’s negotiating position, Martin said.
Russia’s claims of capturing the strategically important city of Pokrovsk in eastern Ukraine come on the back of what appears to be its biggest battlefield advance in a year.
An AFP analysis of data from the US-based Institute for the Study of War, released yesterday, showed Russia captured 270 square miles last month.
It’s the second-largest territorial advance of the war after that of November 2024 – not taking into account the initial months of the invasion when the frontline was highly mobile.
By the end of November, the Russian army controlled, fully or partially, 19.3% of Ukrainian territory, according to the analysis of data from ISW, which works with the Critical Threats Project.
Our Moscow correspondent Ivor Bennett has analysed the latest developments as US negotiators Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner are descending on Moscow to discuss America’s peace plan.
At the same time, Vladimir Putin claimed last night his troops captured the strategically important eastern Ukrainian town of Pokrovsk, as we’ve been reporting throughout the morning.
Bennett said:
“This feels like a targeted message to the Americans coming on the eve of their visit here, designed to say, ‘Look, we have the superiority on the battlefield, and therefore we should be calling the shots in the negotiations'”.
This shows that Russia is “in no mood to compromise” on their controversial demands, including territorial concessions, Bennett said.
He added:
“So I’m very sceptical that Steve Wyckoff is going to be flying off from here today with Russia’s agreement to a peace deal.
Watch his comments on the latest from the battlefield and his thoughts on peace talks below…
Moscow’s defence ministry has released footage apparently showing Russian soldiers in the eastern Ukrainian city of Pokrovsk.
It shows troops holding a Russian flag as the Kremlin claims it has captured the strategically important town, which has been the focal point of brutal house-to-house fighting in recent months. Ukraine hasn’t confirmed the loss of the city.
Reuters was able to confirm the location of the video as Pokrovsk based on buildings, the road layout and trees, which matched file and satellite imagery.
Just as he is about to spar with the US over peace, Vladimir Putin last night appeared to claim an important victory on the battlefield.
He was quoted by Russian news agencies as praising the capture of the key eastern city of Pokrovsk in Donetsk as enabling the military to proceed with “offensive tasks”.
Ukraine is incapable of reacting to Russia’s military, he added. His claims have not been independently verified.
Earlier in the day, the Kremlin said Putin was told during a visit of a command post “of the liberation” of Pokrovsk and Vovchansk in the Kharkiv region.
Zvezda TV, which is the official channel of the Russian defence ministry, shared videos on Telegram allegedly showing Russian troops in the city.
The battle for Pokrovsk has been a focal point of the war in recent months, with many observers viewing the eastern city as a strategically vital location on the battlefield.
The capture claims come at a convenient time for Russia, as they are increasing Russian leverage and the pressure on Ukraine in discussions on ending the war.
While Russia spoke of “liberation”, it’s important to remember that it’s internationally recognised as a Ukrainian city and not part of Russia.
Here’s a look at the most recent outline of the frontline around Pokrovsk in eastern Ukraine…
Donald Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, and son-in-law Jared Kushner will meet Vladimir Putin in Moscow today for talks on ending the war.
Trump’s team are expected to lobby for his latest push for peace, based on a 28-point plan, that leaked two weeks ago.
It was heavily Russia-skewed, including Moscow’s main demands on territorial concessions, Ukraine’s future in NATO and restrictions on its army.
Kyiv appeared to have successfully pulled the plan closer to its own position in negotiations in Geneva two weeks ago. There were also talks in Florida between Ukrainian and US negotiators on Sunday.
But any proposal will need Russia’s blessing, and the Kremlin has so far played down the prospects of an agreement. Putin said the US efforts weren’t an agreement, but a proposal that “could be the basis for future agreements”.
The spotlight is also on Witkoff, who was reportedly behind the Russia-friendly first version of the plan.
Leaked transcripts appeared to show him coach a Kremlin official on pitching Russia’s position to Donald Trump.
Our defence and military analyst Michael Clarke says Witkoff is bound to come back from Moscow with a plan that’s closer to his original version.
Watch his analysis here…
Welcome to our live coverage on what’s shaping up to be another important day of diplomacy.
US envoy Steve Witkoff – who’s under scrutiny after recently appearing to coach the Russian side over approaching Donald Trump – and the president’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner, are heading to Moscow for talks with Vladimir Putin.
They’re set to continue negotiations over how to end the war as Kyiv and the US have been working on an updated peace plan.
It comes at a critical time for Ukraine: Russia has claimed that its troops have captured the strategically important town of Pokrovsk in eastern Ukraine. We’ll have more on that shortly.
Stay with us for all the latest developments and analysis throughout the day.
That’s all for today, but if you’re just checking in, here is a recap of the key developments over the past 24 hours.
Be the first to get Breaking News
Install the Sky News app for free