Ukraine war latest: Putin and Trump’s negotiators to hold key peace talks – as Moscow claims victory in key city

Some of the fiercest fighting along the frontline in Ukraine’s east in recent weeks has been in and around the city of Pokrovsk.

There have been claims and counter-claims from Russia and Ukraine over who controls parts of the city, but Moscow is now saying it has taken it all (see our 7.05 post).

Here’s why the city matters.

‘The gateway to Donetsk’

Nicknamed “the gateway to Donetsk” in Russian media, if taken, Pokrovsk would represent one of Moscow’s most important gains since Avdiivka, in early 2024.

It was previously an important logistics hub for Ukraine, situated along key roads used to supply frontline outposts.

Losing the city would squeeze Ukraine’s access to the wider road network in the area, likely making it more difficult to hold neighbouring pockets of territory, including in the nearby Zaporizhzhia region.

Analysts also say that if Russia has taken the road and rail hub, it would give Vladimir Putin’s forces the platform to push onwards to try and take new territory.

This could include: 

• Chasiv Yar, which sits on higher ground, offering potential control of a wider area
• The key fortress cities of Sloviansk and Kramatorsk 
• And the remaining 10% of the Donbas region.

So far, Russia has generally struggled to penetrate through Ukraine’s current line of “fortress cities” – instead making smaller gains.

After months of inertia, the timing of taking Pokrovsk comes as Donald Trump’s envoy and son-in-law are in Moscow today.

Pokrovsk had a pre-war population of around 60,000 people and a nearby coal mine, which is Ukraine’s largest producer of coking coal – used in its steel industry.

Change in tactics

Instead of a full-frontal assault, as Russia has used previously during its invasion of Ukraine, Moscow deployed a pincer movement on Pokrovsk.

Its forces have been gradually encircling the city, sending in smaller units of troops and drones to harry Ukrainian soldiers, disrupt logistics and sow chaos before moving in larger reinforcements.

Ukraine says Russia’s offensive has seen it sustain significant losses.