Ukraine updates: Russia claims to have captured Pokrovsk
Jon Shelton With AFP, AP, dpa, Reuters
Published 12/01/2025Published December 1, 2025
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov says Russian forces captured the key city in eastern Donetsk. Meanwhile, President
Zelenskyy and France's Macron spoke with US envoy Steve Witkoff ahead of talks with Putin. DW has more.
Skip next section What you need to know
Russia says it has captured the key Ukrainian city of Pokrovsk
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has met French counterpart Emmanuel Macron to 'move negotiations forward'
The meeting came just hours after Ukrainian negotiators sat down with US counterparts in Florida on Sunday
Though the US and Ukraine both called Sunday's talks positive, it remains unclear if an end to Russia's invasion can be
achieved and just how much the US will demand of Ukraine to make that happen
Europe's top diplomat, Kaja Kallas, said parties are at the beginning of 'a pivotal week for Ukraine diplomacy'
This blog, with the latest headlines regarding Russia's war in Ukraine on Monday, December 1, is now closed.
Skip next section We're closing the blog
12/02/2025December 2, 2025
Thank you for reading. We'll be back tomorrow with the latest news on Russia's war in Ukraine, the peace efforts to end
it, and the battle for the eastern Ukrainian city of Pokrovsk.
Skip next section Russia claims to have captured eastern Ukrainian city of Pokrovsk
12/02/2025December 2, 2025
Russia claims to have captured eastern Ukrainian city of Pokrovsk
Russian forces claimed to have captured the frontline towns of Pokrovsk
and Vovchansk (see entry below).
But Ukrainian officials have made no acknowledgement that either place has fallen into Russia's hands.
The Russian Defense Ministry Telegram channel posted a video that showed Russian troops striding through a town
Moscow has sought full control of Pokrovsk since last year as part of its broader objective to seize the entire Donbas
Russia pushes toward key Ukrainian front-line city Pokrovsk
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Skip next section What to know about Ukraine peace talks on Monday
12/01/2025December 1, 2025
What to know about Ukraine peace talks on Monday
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris for talks on ending the war
Macron said he wanted to praise the US peace efforts but insisted that any peace plan only "only be finalized with
Europeans around the table."
Zelenskyy spoke optimistically about revisions to the Trump administration's initial plan to end the war in Ukraine,
saying the version emerging out of talks in Switzerland and Florida over the last week "looks better."
The initial plan would have required Ukraine to give up territory, impose limits on the size of Ukraine's military, and
blocked the country from joining NATO.
The plan now heads to Moscow, with Russian President Vladimir Putin set to meet with US special envoy Steve Witkoff on
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas expressed concern that the US-Russia talks might end up with Ukraine having to make
more concessions, telling reporters that she was "afraid that all the pressure will be put on the victim."
Skip next section WATCH — Putin to meet US envoy in Moscow
12/01/2025December 1, 2025
WATCH — Putin to meet US envoy in Moscow
The Ukraine peace talks shift to Moscow, where US envoy Steve Witkoff meets President Putin on Tuesday.
We speak to Russia expert Ivana Stradner, who expects Putin to reject the peace plan and come up with new demands.
US envoy Witkoff to meet Russia's Putin in Moscow
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Skip next section Russia captures Pokrovsk, Kremlin spokesman tells journalists
12/01/2025December 1, 2025
Russia captures Pokrovsk, Kremlin spokesman tells journalists
Russia's military has taken the Ukrainian town of Pokrovsk in the eastern region of Donetsk, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry
Peskov told Russian journalists.
According to reports in Russia, President Vladimir Putin visited a command post on Sunday and heard reports from army
commanders about the military taking over Pokrovsk, as well as the town of Vovchansk.
The claims could not be independently verified.
Why is Pokrovsk important?
Pokrovsk is an important logistics hub that had a population of around 60,000 prior to the war. However, most civilians
If Russia were to capture the city, it could use it as a base from which to advance on the two largest
Ukrainian-controlled cities remaining in the Donetsk region: Kramatorsk and Sloviansk.
Moscow is intent on capturing the entire Donetsk region, which it claims to have annexed.
Taking Pokrovsk would also be Russia's most significant territorial gain in Ukraine since seizing the ruined city of
Avdiivka in early 2024 following one of the war's bloodiest battles.
Ukraine at critical moment to hold embattled eastern front
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Skip next section White House 'very optimistic' about ending Russia-Ukraine war
12/01/2025December 1, 2025
White House 'very optimistic' about ending Russia-Ukraine war
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said US President Donald Trump's administration is "very optimistic" about
the chances of securing an end Russia's war in Ukraine.
According to Leavitt, "very good" talks with Ukraine's representatives took place in Florida.
Earlier today, Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the issue of territory remains an obstacle to the
Skip next section South African radio host suspected of recruiting fighters for Russia
12/01/2025December 1, 2025
South African radio host suspected of recruiting fighters for Russia
A radio presenter from South Africa appeared in court on allegations of recruiting men to fightwith the Russian military
Police said the presenter, Nonkululeko Mantula, recruited four men, and that she was arranging for them to travel to and
The four men appeared in court with Mantula, with all five to remain in custody until their bail hearing next week. Read
more about that story here.
Skip next section EU to apply further sanctions on Belarus, says von der Leyen
12/01/2025December 1, 2025
EU to apply further sanctions on Belarus, says von der Leyen
The European Union (EU) is preparing further sanctions against Belarus over the "hybrid attack" by the country on
neighbor Lithuania, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said.
"The situation at the border with Belarus is worsening," von der Leyen posted on her X account, adding that the number
of smuggling balloons that enter Lithuania's airspace is growing, calling the attacks "unacceptable."
"Lithuania continues to have our full solidarity. We are preparing further measures under our sanctions regime."
According to the Vilnius foreign ministry, the EU's diplomatic service summoned the Belarusian representative in
Brussels, telling them their country should stop the so-called hybrid attacks against EU countries.
Skip next section Russia should not be rewarded for aggression, Zelenskyy says
12/01/2025December 1, 2025
Russia should not be rewarded for aggression, Zelenskyy says
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the negotiations to reach a ceasefire in the war with Russia is going well,
but that the territorial issue remains the most challenging.
Zelenskyy, who spoke on a visit to Paris with French counterpart Emmanuel Macron, also added Russia had stepped up its
attacks on Ukraine, in an effort to try and break Kyiv down.
The Ukrainian leader said everything needed to be done to ensure Russia was not rewarded for its full-scale invasion of
"We also need to ensure that Russia itself does not perceive anything it could consider as a reward for this war,"
Zelenskyy said at a joint press conference with Macron.
Kyiv apartment block hit in deadly Russian missile strike
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Skip next section WATCH — Russia will not outlast EU, says Kaja Kallas
12/01/2025December 1, 2025
WATCH — Russia will not outlast EU, says Kaja Kallas
European Union defense ministers have gathered in Brussels to discuss military support for Kyiv. The EU's top diplomat,
Kaja Kallas, said the meeting sent a three-way message.
Kallas: Russia will not outlast EU
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Skip next section France's Macron: Only Ukraine can decide on peace deal
12/01/2025December 1, 2025
France's Macron: Only Ukraine can decide on peace deal
French President Emmanuel Macron on Monday said that only Ukraine can decide on whether it will cede territories to
Russia in exchange for Moscow halting its four-year war.
Macron, who spoke after face-to-face meetings with Ukrainian President Zelenskyy in Paris as well as numerous conference
calls with other EU and NATO leaders, promised more clarity on the current situation after talks between US special
envoy Steve Witkoff and Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Kremlin on Tuesday.
Macron said Russia shows no signs of stopping its aggression, however, and demanded that European leaders have a seat at
the negotiating table when a final peace deal is drawn up in order to ensure security guarantees for Kyiv.
Skip next section German Chancellor Merz: 'No dictated peace for Ukraine'
12/01/2025December 1, 2025
German Chancellor Merz: 'No dictated peace for Ukraine'
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on Monday joined other EU leaders in calling for support for Kyiv as the US pressures
Ukraine to make potentially painful concessions to end Russia's war of aggression or face uncertain consequences.
Merz, standing with Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk in Berlin on Monday, said, "We have a clear course of action: No
decision on Ukraine and Europe without Ukrainians and without Europeans."
"No dictated peace over the heads of Ukrainians. No weakening or division of the European Union and NATO," he added.
Merz made the comments shortly after speaking with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who is in Paris this Monday,
Skip next section EU's Kallas warns of pressuring Ukraine to make concessions
12/01/2025December 1, 2025
EU's Kallas warns of pressuring Ukraine to make concessions
EU foreign policy representative Kaja Kallas on Monday cautioned against piling pressure on Kyiv as the US rushes to
bring about an end to Russia's invasion of neighboring Ukraine.
"I am afraid that, you know, all the pressure will be put on the weaker side, because that is the easier way to stop
this war when Ukraine surrenders," Kallas told journalists in Brussels.
"In this war there is one aggressor and one victim," she said after meeting with EU defense ministers, adding, "Our job
is to do all we can to support the victim and not reward the aggressor."
Kallas also renewed calls for the EU to agree a massive new loan for Ukraine — funded by Russian frozen assets — that
has been stymied by Belgium over fear of legal repercussions from Moscow.
"Multi-year funding," said Kallas, "would be a game-changer for Ukraine's defense. It will definitely strengthen the
European position vis-a-vis Moscow. That's very clear. We need to move on with this."
Skip next section US, EU and Ukraine in comms flurry ahead of Tuesday US-Russia meeting
12/01/2025December 1, 2025
US, EU and Ukraine in comms flurry ahead of Tuesday US-Russia meeting
US envoy Steve Witkoff met with Ukrainian negotiator Rustem Umerov again in Florida on Monday to discuss still
unresolved issues related to efforts aimed at ending Russia's invasion of Ukraine after nearly four years.
Umerov is expected to join Ukrainian President Zelenskyy in Dublin on Tuesday, where he will relay details of two days
of meetings with US negotiators.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov on Monday confirmed that Witkoff will again travel to Moscow for meetings with Russian
President Vladimir Putin scheduled for Tuesday afternoon.
On Monday, Zelenskyy and French President Emmanuel Macron spoke by phone with Witkoff and Umerov before conferring with
numerous other EU leaders, such as Germany's Chancellor Friedrich Merz, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and NATO
Secretary General Mark Rutte.
Skip next section Berlin insists on using Russian assets for Ukraine despite Belgian fears
12/01/2025December 1, 2025
Berlin insists on using Russian assets for Ukraine despite Belgian fears
A spokesman for the German Federal Government on Monday reiterated Berlin's insistence that €140 billion ($163 billion)
in frozen Russian assets currently parked in Belgium should be used to finance Ukraine's war effort.
Belgium and the EU have been discussing the matter for some time, with European Commission President Ursula von der
Leyen and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz arguing the funds should be used as credit for Ukraine, while those opposed
to the idea — like Belgium — fear legal peril from Russia for breach of contract over money stored within the country.
EU plan to use frozen Russian assets to fund Ukraine
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