Russian Troops Enter Dnipropetrovsk Region Amid Ongoing Ukraine Talks

Russian troops have entered Ukraine's Dnipropetrovsk region for the first time, capturing two villages, although Ukrainian forces deny Russia has established stable control there amid ongoing fighting. President Donald Trump's special envoy revealed that Moscow’s peace proposal focuses on the Donetsk region, but acknowledged it may not be acceptable to Ukraine. The Kremlin firmly opposes the deployment of European or NATO troops in Ukraine, viewing such military presence as a core reason for the conflict, and insists that any high-level peace talks between Putin and Zelenskyy must be carefully prepared. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov praised Trump's peace efforts as important, while emphasizing that security guarantees for Ukraine remain a sensitive issue under discreet negotiation. Despite the ongoing conflict, Russia maintains it targets only military infrastructure and is preparing for President Putin’s upcoming visit to China for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit. Negotiations continue without a scheduled date for future talks, reflecting the complex and cautious diplomatic environment.