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As one analyst quoted by European media put it, “The Kremlin’s position suggests negotiations are acceptable only if they ratify gains Russia has not secured on the battlefield.” That stance has fueled skepticism among experts who fear that Peace Talks may stall regardless of U.S. and Ukrainian progress.

Battlefield Developments Strengthen Kyiv’s Hand

While diplomats talk, fighting continues—particularly around the northeastern city of Kupyansk, a strategic rail and road hub in the Kharkiv region. According to reports from The Kyiv Post (https://www.kyivpost.com), Russian forces appear close to being pushed out of the city, with only several dozen isolated troops remaining.

Ukraine’s General Staff said Russian forces launched five attacks in the Kupyansk sector on Dec. 24, all of which were repelled near Petropavlivka, Pishchane, Zahryzove, and Kupyansk itself. Viktor Trehubov, head of communications for Ukraine’s Joint Forces grouping, said a recent Ukrainian counteroffensive severely disrupted Russian attempts to stabilize the front.

“They are surrendering,” Trehubov said during a televised briefing. “There have even been cases of foreigners — foreign mercenaries for the Russians — giving themselves up.”

He added that Russian units inside Kupyansk are cut off from reliable supply lines and lack the manpower needed to reverse their losses. “At this stage, they simply do not have additional capabilities to somehow restore the situation,” Trehubov said.

Notably, even Kremlin-aligned military bloggers have begun acknowledging the setback. “An entire wave of messages appeared saying that Kupyansk is gone,” Trehubov noted. “Even Russian propagandists have switched to a line acknowledging that the city is no longer under their control.”

What Comes Next for Peace Talks and Ukraine

As Zelenskyy and Trump prepare to meet, developments on the ground in Kupyansk and elsewhere may shape the tone and leverage of upcoming Peace Talks. While U.S. officials have spoken optimistically about achieving a “lasting and durable peace,” the gap between Kyiv’s proposals and Moscow’s demands remains wide.

For Ukraine, the combination of diplomatic momentum and battlefield resilience may offer its strongest negotiating position in months. Whether that will be enough to move Russia remains the central unanswered question.