Kremlin releases video of Putin in military gear claiming advances across all fronts while ISW says Konstantinovka not seized; Russia fires 68 missiles and 351 drones at Ukrainian cities causing civilian casualtiEs; Trump speaks with Putin and Zelensky pressing for ceasefire; Iran's Raisi funeral features anti-American chants.
Russia n President Vladimir Putin appeared in military attire in footage released by the Kremlin, meeting with commanders and asserting that Russia n forces are advancing on all fronts in the war, at present in its fifth year, which he claimed is progressing according to plan. he stated that enemy forces are sustaining heavy losses and withdrawing, and that since the beginning of the year Russia n forces have liberated 133 settlements and secured over 3,000 square kilometers of territory in Donbass and Novorossiya. the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) reported that Russia n forces have infiltrated but not seized the town of Konstantinovka (Kostyantynivka),calling Russia n claims of its capture part of a cognitive warfare effort to portray Ukrainian frontlines as collapsing using false evidence.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky mocked the claim, suggesting that if Konstantinovka were under Russian control, Putin could meet him there to find diplomatic solutions, and dismissed it as another Russian lie. Former U.S. President Donald Trump spoke with both Putin and Zelensky. Putin,according to Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov, tried to convince Trump that a Russian victory is inevitable and that Ukraine should cede territory for a ceasefire.
Ushakov said Putin emphasized that European partners have a false perception of the front lines and described a real battlefield situation where Russian forces are advancing across the entire theater. The U.S. initiated the call and the two leaders discussed the upcoming NATO summit, the war and military-political and economic issues. meanwhile, Russia launched a massive missile and drone attack on Ukraine, with 68 missiles and 351 attack drones targeting more than 10 locations including residential buildings. casualties were reported with at least 13 killed and 60 wounded as rescue workers searched for survivors at two residential high-rises that suffered direct hits.
Zelensky said Ukraine's air defense intercepted many drones and cruise missiles though not ballistic missiles due to insufficient interceptor missiles, underscoring his request to NATO allies ahead of a summit in Turkey. Trump, who has a pre-summit press conference scheduled, feels a sense of urgency to end the war and will discuss solutions with Zelensky in Ankara before following up with Putin, according to a senior U.S. official.
Separately, the funeral of Iran's late President Ebrahim Raisi,killed in a helicopter crash on Feb. 28, included chAnts of Death to America and Death to Israel and calls for Trump's assassination. Trump expressed surprise at the large crowds of mourners,speculating the grief might be fake. He noted that the new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, was not present and said the U.S. decided to seize a week off from talks during the mourning period.
He also remarked that one shot could target the gathering but that would depart no one to negotiate with
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