Ukraine has initiated the evacuation of 11 additional villages in the Sumy region, which borders Russia, due to concerns that Moscow is preparing for a new offensive.
According to Kyiv, Russia has recently claimed control over several villages in the northeastern area and has bolstered its troop presence to over 50,000 soldiers across the border.
These evacuations took place just two days prior to a potential meeting in Istanbul between the two nations, as the U.S. urged both parties to work towards ending the ongoing conflict that has persisted for three years.
Russia confirmed that it will send a delegation to the Turkish city, but Kyiv has not yet agreed to participate, cautioning that productive discussions would only occur if the Kremlin provided its terms for peace in advance.
On Friday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky accused Moscow of attempting to undermine the upcoming meeting by withholding its proposals for peace.
The evacuation of villages within a 30-kilometer radius of the Russian border was announced by the regional administration on social media, highlighting the ongoing threats to civilian safety due to shelling in border communities.
Andriy Demchenko, a spokesperson for Ukraine’s border guard service, indicated on Thursday that Russia is readying to “launch an attack” on Sumy.
In total, the evacuation order affects 213 settlements in the region.
On Saturday, Russia’s defense ministry reported that its forces had captured another village in the Sumy region, Vodolagy.
Since its invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Moscow’s actions have led to significant casualties and the destruction of numerous towns and villages in the east and south of the country. The Kremlin’s military currently controls around 20% of Ukraine and asserts that it has annexed five regions, including Crimea, which was taken in 2014.
U.S. President Donald Trump has been at the forefront of diplomatic efforts aimed at concluding the hostilities. However, both Kyiv and Moscow have accused one another of lacking the desire for peace.
The Kremlin has proposed further negotiations in Istanbul on Monday after a previous round of talks on May 16, which resulted in minimal outcomes other than a significant prisoner exchange.
Kyiv has not yet confirmed its attendance at the upcoming meeting and stated on Friday that it does not anticipate any fruitful results unless Moscow presents its peace terms beforehand.
Russia has stated that it will present its peace proposal in person on Monday. However, Ukraine is wary that it will include unrealistic demands, which have been previously rejected, such as ceding territory that Ukraine still controls and renouncing its NATO aspirations.
In a statement to the United Nations on Friday, Russia’s UN ambassador Vassily Nebenzia implied that the memorandum might demand Western nations to cease arms supplies to Ukraine and for Ukraine to halt its military mobilization.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who has maintained friendly relations with both Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin, has emerged as a key mediator in efforts to resolve the conflict.
During a call with Zelensky late Friday, Erdogan emphasized the importance of both sides sending “strong delegations” to maintain momentum towards peace, as reported by the Turkish state news agency Anadolu.
Turkey has proposed hosting a summit involving Putin, Zelensky, and Trump, although the Kremlin has declined the offer.
Putin has consistently dismissed requests for a 30-day, unconditional ceasefire in Ukraine.
