While Russian forces have staged a successful counteroffensive in the border region of Kursk in the last week, their attacks in the eastern Ukrainian region of Donetsk have slowed to a halt. Ukrainians have begun launching counterattacks along that eastern line, particularly in Toretsk.

A ceasefire in Russia’s 3-year-old war in Ukraine hinges on Moscow accepting the U.S. proposal of a 30-day pause in fighting as a confidence-building measure for both sides to hammer out a longer-term peace plan.

The barrage comes less than 24 hours after Russian President Vladimir Putin discussed details of the U.S. proposal for a 30-day ceasefire with a U.S. envoy.

The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) warns that the current front line does not provide Ukraine with sufficient strategic depth to defend against Russian attacks. The American think tank, the Institute for the Study of War (ISW),