Ukraine repelled the Russian attempt to cross into Sumy Oblast, fighting continue

Russian forces attempted to cross the border into Sumy Oblast near the village of Novenke on February 25 but were repelled, according to Ukraine's General Staff spokesperson, Dmytro Lykhovii.

Lykhovii stated that Moscow's troops have continued their assaults in the area following their initial failure. Reports from the DeepState monitoring group suggest that Russian forces briefly crossed the border, marking Novenke as a contested zone. The village is located approximately 40 kilometers (25 miles) north of Sumy, the regional center.

Andrii Kovalenko, head of the Center for Countering Disinformation, confirmed ongoing Russian infantry attacks near Novenke but dismissed speculation about a broader offensive, citing Russia’s lack of sufficient strength and resources.

Ukraine launched an incursion into Russia’s Kursk Oblast in August 2024 to divert Moscow’s forces from Donbas and prevent a Russian offensive into Sumy Oblast. After six months of fighting, Russian forces claim to have regained control over 64% of the area.

Ukraine’s General Staff reported nearly 40,000 Russian casualties in Kursk Oblast, including over 16,000 killed, as of February 6. Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi previously stated that Ukraine’s incursion into Kursk prevented Russia from creating a so-called "buffer zone" in Sumy Oblast.

On February 25, Russian forces attempted to storm the border near Novenke with two mechanized units, but Ukrainian defenders blocked and repelled them, forcing them to retreat back into Russian territory. Russia has since switched tactics, launching smaller infantry assault groups in an attempt to maintain pressure on the border.

Russia claims that the US has approved the appointment of a new Russian ambassador

Russia's Foreign Ministry has confirmed that the United States has granted agrément for Alexander Darchiyev's appointment as Russia’s new ambassador to Washington. The decision was finalized during bilateral consultations on February 27 in Istanbul.

Darchiyev, a seasoned diplomat, has extensive experience in Russian-American relations, having served in Russia’s diplomatic mission in Washington for nearly a decade. His prior roles included as an embassy counsellor from 1997 to 2002 and minister-counsellor from 2005 to 2010. Additionally, he was Russia’s ambassador to Canada from 2014 to 2021 before taking on his most recent position as director of the North Atlantic Department at the Russian Foreign Ministry.

His upcoming tenure in Washington comes at a time of heightened tensions between the two nations, particularly regarding the war in Ukraine and diplomatic restrictions. The Kremlin expects his expertise to navigate the complexities of U.S.-Russia relations.

Putin's remarks suggest Russia has no intention of making territorial concessions

The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) reports that Russian leader Vladimir Putin and Kremlin officials continue to signal that Russia retains "maximalist territorial ambitions" and refuses to offer any territorial concessions. Analysts note that Putin and his administration reject U.S. negotiation proposals and instead demand that Ukraine surrender territories Russia has not been able to fully occupy. Recent statements by Putin and his spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, emphasize Russia’s claims over Donbas and the so-called "Novorossiya," a term the Kremlin has used to describe a broad swath of eastern and southern Ukraine, including Kharkiv, Dnipropetrovsk, Odesa, and Mykolaiv oblasts.

Despite failing to control large portions of the Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia oblasts, Putin continues to assert his claim over these regions while also advancing into parts of the Kharkiv and Mykolaiv oblasts. The ISW warns that the Kremlin may use its limited occupation of these areas as a pretext to pressure Ukraine into further territorial concessions. Analysts highlight that Putin remains unwilling to engage in genuine negotiations and instead believes that military force can help him achieve his war objectives in the medium to long term.

In contrast, U.S. officials, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio and President Donald Trump, have stressed that any peace settlement must involve concessions from Russia. Trump reiterated on February 27 that the U.S. would push to recover as much Ukrainian land as possible. Meanwhile, the ISW suggests that Kremlin media guidelines reveal Putin’s intent to manipulate Trump and sow divisions among Western allies during negotiations.