In the ongoing conflict that has transformed Eastern Europe, Russian forces have announced the capture of two communities in the Ukraine’s Donetsk region, further accelerating their relentless push despite the stalled diplomatic efforts. On the 23rd of August 2025, the defense ministry made public via social media that the troops had taken possession of Sredneye and Kleban-Byk and Kleban-Byk, indicating the incremental progress in a conflicting region where battles take place meters by meters. The capture of Kleban Byk puts Russian troops closer to Kostiantynivka strategically crucial fortified town that lies along the route to Kramatorsk which is which is the largest Ukrainian logistics hub that is essential to the operation’s sustainability.
This is in response to Friday’s claims of Russia of securing three additional villages in Donetsk the territory Moscow declared as annexed on September 22, 2022. Ukrainian military reports refuted this by claiming that they were resilient in claiming that their forces were able to stop the Russian attack and had reclaimed villages in Zeleny Gai in the same region. Prior to July Russia was able to declare Zeleny Gai as its territory and described it as a key fortress that would help strengthen Ukrainian defenses close to close to the Dnipropetrovsk border.
These shifts in the battlefield coincide with the waning hope for high-level talks to settle the conflict, despite international calls to dialogue. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has joined the chorus of people calling for a direct meeting that would be held between Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky, and Russian the Russian President Vladimir Putin. On a call together with Zelensky the previous day, Ramaphosa stressed the need for urgent trilateral and bilateral discussions with Russia and the United States to demonstrate a real determination to end conflict. As the present G20 Chair, he met on the phone with French the president Emmanuel Macron and Finnish President Alexander Stubb, with plans to meet with additional European officials in the coming months.
Ramaphosa’s efforts to reach out are based upon his recent conversations with Putin earlier during the week, who he described as a cherished all-time ally and respected friend in his autumn BRICS summit. In particular, this year saw an important shift in South Africa, which for the first time, backed the United Nations resolution condemning Russia’s complete incursion into Ukraine. Zelensky responded to the appeal, stated his willingness to engage in any type of a meeting with Putin but expressed displeasure with the fact that Moscow is determined to prolong the impasse. In a tweet through social media platforms, Zelensky called on nations of the Global South to exercise influence and pressure Russia to join in real peace efforts.
In addition to the diplomatic obstacles, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov declared on Friday there is no summit currently planned, even as mediation efforts under the direction of United States President Donald Trump face difficulties. Zelensky has been accused of Russian military of intentionally prolonging their offensive and weakening the momentum of talks. As the military tensions rise in Donetsk and world leaders navigate complicated alliances, the way to a resolution is unclear with each claim to territory highlighting the difficulty of bridging division that exists between Kyiv as well as Moscow.
