Wed Aug 20 16:27:41 UTC 2025: Here’s a news article summarizing the provided text, written from an Indian perspective:
**Indian Perspective: Russia Claims Gains in Ukraine Amidst Peace Efforts**
**Moscow, August 20, 2025 (The Hindu)** – Despite ongoing US-led peace initiatives, Russia’s military announced today that it has seized three villages in eastern Ukraine. The Russian Defence Ministry, via Telegram, stated that its forces continued their advance into Ukrainian defenses in the Donetsk region, capturing Sukhetske and Pankivka. These villages are located near a recent breakthrough point in the front lines, between the strategically important cities of Pokrovsk and Kostiantynivka.
The Russian army also claimed control of Novogeorgiivka, in the Dnipropetrovsk region, marking an expansion of the conflict into a previously unaffected area since July. These developments occur as the United States and European leaders intensify their efforts to negotiate a peace agreement to end the four-year conflict.
US President Donald Trump has stated that Russian President Vladimir Putin has agreed to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and consider Western security guarantees for Kyiv. However, this announcement has been met with skepticism in European capitals.
Sources indicate that during a phone call on Monday, President Putin suggested holding the summit in Moscow, an idea that was reportedly rejected by President Zelensky.
The situation remains fluid, with analysts in India closely monitoring the impact of the ongoing conflict on global energy markets and geopolitical stability. The increased involvement of the US in mediating the conflict is also under close observation, particularly regarding its potential influence on the existing balance of power in the region.
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