09:47 12-08-2025

Ukraine Seeks Russian Land Before Putin–Trump Talks

Zеlеnskiу / Оfficiаl / Telegram

Military analyst Vasily Dandykin claims Ukraine is trying to capture Russian land before the Putin–Trump talks, despite heavy losses in Sumy and Bryansk regions.

Retired Russian Navy Captain First Rank and military analyst Vasily Dandykin has suggested that Ukraine is attempting to seize a portion of Russian territory ahead of the upcoming meeting between Presidents Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump. He pointed to the heavy Ukrainian losses in the Sumy direction as evidence of this strategy.

Dandykin explained that, in his view, Kyiv’s forces aim to capture at least a small section of Russian land before the talks begin. He noted that intensified activity is not limited to the Sumy area but is also visible in other regions, such as Bryansk. The situation, he said, remains tense and unstable, with fierce clashes taking place in Sumy region.

According to him, Ukrainian troops near Sumy are facing a severe shortage of manpower, underscoring the scale of their losses. He added that Russian forces often find significant stockpiles of weapons and ammunition in trenches they capture-while encountering very few Ukrainian soldiers there.

Dandykin stressed that, despite these setbacks, Ukrainian units are still trying to gain ground and push through in some areas. However, he noted, time is running short before the scheduled talks.

The meeting between Putin and Trump is set to take place on August 15 in Alaska, with the primary focus expected to be finding a framework for a long-term peaceful resolution to the conflict in Ukraine.