- The U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) acknowledges that Russian forces have made significant gains in eastern Ukraine, particularly in the Donbas region, marking a rare admission of Moscow's tactical successes.
- Ukrainian forces face extreme tension on the frontlines, with Russian troops advancing towards key strongholds, including the city of Pokrovsk, which is a critical logistics hub and home to Ukraine's only coking coal mine.
- The potential loss of the Pokrovsk mine could devastate Ukraine's steel industry, reducing production from 7.6 million metric tons in 2024 to an estimated 2-3 million metric tons in 2025 if seized, further straining Ukraine's economy.
- With U.S. President-elect Donald Trump's deal-making reputation, there's hope for a diplomatic resolution to the conflict. The international community recognizes the need for negotiation to prevent further bloodshed and find a lasting peace.
- The coming weeks are crucial for the new U.S. administration to leverage its influence and push for a negotiated settlement, as the ongoing military engagement seems unlikely to yield a lasting solution.
As the Russia-Ukraine war approaches its third year, the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) has reluctantly acknowledged that Russian forces are making significant gains on the battlefield, particularly in eastern Ukraine.
This admission underscores the growing challenges faced by Ukrainian forces and highlights the urgent need for a diplomatic solution to end the bloodshed. With President-elect Donald Trump set to take office on Jan. 20, his reputation as a dealmaker offers a glimmer of hope for a negotiated resolution to the conflict.
During a press briefing on Monday, Jan. 13, DoD Press Secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder conceded that Russian forces have achieved "incremental gains" in the Donbass region. While Ryder emphasized that Russia has not achieved its broader strategic objectives, his remarks marked a rare acknowledgment of Moscow's tactical successes.
"What we're seeing on the battlefield is that, especially in the east, Russia has made some incremental gains," Ryder stated. The DoD spokesman downplayed Russia's gains, adding that Moscow "has not achieved any of Its strategic objectives that it set for itself almost three years ago." (Related: Russia seizes Kurakhove in major eastern Ukraine breakthrough.)
Meanwhile, Russian Defense Minister Andrey Belousov has claimed that Ukraine has suffered nearly one million troop losses since the conflict began, though these figures remain unverified and are likely inflated. Nevertheless, Ukrainian commanders have described the situation on the frontlines as "extremely tense," with Russian forces closing in on critical Ukrainian strongholds.
Russia's advance toward Pokrovsk threatens Ukraine's steel industry
One such stronghold is the city of Pokrovsk, a strategic logistics hub in the Donetsk region. Russian troops are now within a mile of the city's outskirts, having recently captured the nearby village of Pishchane. The proximity of advancing Russian forces has forced Ukraine to halt production at its only coking coal mine in the city, a vital facility for the country's steel industry.
"They have all stopped working now," an industry source told Reuters. A second source added that operations have been reduced to surface-level activities as an evacuation of the Pokrovsk mines is underway.
The loss of Pokrovsk would deal a devastating blow to Ukraine's already struggling steel industry, which has seen production plummet from 7.6 million metric tons in 2024 to an estimated 2-3 million metric tons in 2025 if the mine is seized. This would further strain Ukraine's economy, which relies heavily on metal exports, worth nearly $4.4 billion in 2024, to sustain its war effort.
As Russia continues its slow but steady advances, the need for a diplomatic solution becomes increasingly apparent. The human and economic toll of the conflict is staggering, with both sides suffering immense losses. The Defense Department's acknowledgment of Russia's battlefield gains underscores the futility of prolonged military engagement and the necessity of pursuing peace talks.
President-elect Donald Trump, known for his deal-making prowess, appears uniquely positioned to broker a resolution. His approach, which prioritizes negotiation over escalation, could provide a pathway to ending the conflict. While critics have questioned his willingness to engage with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Trump's ability to navigate complex negotiations offers a potential alternative to the current stalemate.
The war in Ukraine has already claimed countless lives and devastated entire regions. As Russian forces tighten their grip on key territories, the international community must recognize that a military solution is unlikely to yield a lasting peace. Diplomacy, led by a skilled negotiator like Trump, may be the only way to prevent further bloodshed and bring an end to this devastating conflict.
The coming weeks will be critical as the world watches whether the new U.S. administration can leverage its influence to push for a negotiated settlement. For now, the DoD's admission serves as a sobering reminder of the realities on the ground and the urgent need for a diplomatic breakthrough.
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Watch this video of Natalya, a resident of Gorlovka in the Donetsk region, telling Graham Phillips that Donetsk will remain under Russian control.
This video is from the Cynthia's Pursuit of Truth channel on Brighteon.com.
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