MEZIESBLOG

As the war in Ukraine enters a new week, we’re back with an overview of everything you need to know about the conflict, from Donald Trump’s return to the White House to North Koreans captured by Ukraine.

Here’s the present situation on the battlefield…

Call between Putin and Trump expected soon 

One of the biggest changes to the conflict could come via the United States with Donald Trump vowing to end the war in six months. 

The incoming president has long made the promise, but has not set out how he might achieve it. 

However, one of his top advisers has said he will have a call with Russian President Vladimir Putin in the coming days or weeks. 

Mr Trump is due to take office on 20 January. 

US Congressman Mike Waltz, the incoming national security adviser, told ABC on Sunday that the war had become a World War One-style “meat grinder of people and resources” with “World War Three consequences”. 

“Everybody knows that this has to end somehow diplomatically,” Mr Waltz said.

“I just don’t think it’s realistic to say we’re going to expel every Russian from every inch of Ukrainian soil, even Crimea.” 

Asked specifically about contacts between Mr Trump and Vladimir Putin, Mr Waltz said: “I do expect a call for, at least in the coming days and weeks. So, that would be a step and we’ll take it from there.”

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said there was no “substantive preparation” for the meeting yet. 

But, he said it would be possible to talk about one after Mr Trump was inaugurated, saying that security guarantees for Russia would be an integral part of negotiations. 

Russian forces bypass key stronghold 

Russian forces are bypassing a key stronghold in eastern Ukraine and are focusing instead on cutting supply lines to it, a Ukrainian official said.

Russian troops are going around the vital logistics hub of Pokrovsk, where Ukrainian forces have kept them at bay, and are taking aim at a highway that leads to the central Ukraine city of Dnipro, Major Viktor Trehubov, a local Ukrainian army spokesperson, said. 

That route is crucial for supplies feeding Ukrainian forces in the entire region. Cutting the highway traffic would also severely weaken Pokrovsk.

“So far, they have not achieved their goal and (Ukrainian forces) are working to ensure that they do not achieve it in the future – just as they have not been successful in other attempts to bypass the city,” Major Trehubov said.

Ukraine’s army is under severe strain along parts of the approximately 600-mile front line, especially in the eastern Donetsk region where Pokrovsk is. 

Zelenskyy ready to hand over North Korea troops 

We may also see some movement on the exchange of captured troops after Ukraine’s president said his forces were ready to hand over North Korean soldiers. 

Ukraine captured two North Korean soldiers in Russia’s Kursk region last week.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he would be willing to give them to their leader Kim Jong Un if he can organise their exchange for Ukrainians being held in Russia. 

“In addition to the first captured soldiers from North Korea, there will undoubtedly be more. It’s only a matter of time before our troops manage to capture others,” Mr Zelenskyy said. 

Ukraine estimated that 10,000 to 12,000 North Korean troops have been sent to Russia.

The White House and Pentagon said the North Korean forces have been battling on the front lines in largely infantry positions.

They have been fighting with Russian units and, in some cases, independently around Kursk.