As the war enters its fifth year, fighting continues along a front line spanning over 1,200 kilometers. Russian forces are wearing down Ukrainian defenses, but Kyiv is also conducting counteroffensives.
Zelenskyy stated that, considering both occupation and liberated territory, Kyiv is slightly ahead, having reclaimed about 20 square kilometers. He did not specify the timeframe for these gains.
"The offensive they planned for March has been thwarted by the actions of our armed forces. Therefore, the Russians will now simply intensify their offensive operations. At this moment, we do not see a threat of large-scale escalation," Zelenskyy said in a statement released by his office.
Russia controls slightly less than 20 percent of Ukrainian territory, with a significant portion seized even before the full-scale invasion in 2022.
Open-source intelligence data from DeepState suggests that Russia has advanced a total of about 500 square kilometers since the beginning of January, indicating a slowdown compared to last year.
"Overall, the front line is holding. The situation is complex, but the best in the last 10 months," he said, citing data from Ukrainian and British intelligence services.
Russian forces are massing near the logistical hub of Pokrovsk in the Donetsk region, as well as near Huliaipole in the southeastern Zaporizhzhia region, Zelenskyy added.
The Ukrainian General Staff reported 230 combat clashes in the past 24 hours, noting that most attacks occurred near Pokrovsk and in the Zaporizhzhia region. They added that fighting typically intensifies with the arrival of warmer weather and that previous attempts to find a diplomatic solution have yielded no results.
Russia has repeatedly announced that its forces are expanding their gains in the eastern Donetsk region, the capture of which is one of the main objectives of the invasion.
Moscow demands that Kyiv withdraw its troops from parts of the Donetsk region it still controls. Zelenskyy rejects this and seeks to negotiate a lasting peace agreement with strong security guarantees for Ukraine.
Given that the war in the Middle East increases uncertainty about future weapons deliveries to Ukraine and that peace talks mediated by the United States have practically stalled, Zelenskyy said he has invited American negotiators to visit Kyiv and then possibly travel to Moscow.
"The delegation will do everything possible, under the existing circumstances during the war with Iran, to come to Kyiv. This is an alternative format compared to the trilateral meeting at the level of technical teams," Zelenskyy said.