Russia says forces capture two settlements, Ukraine says fighting continues throughout front

Turkey's President Tayyip Erdogan and Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy attend a meeting at the Presidential Palace in Ankara, Turkey May 15, 2025. Ukrainian Presidential Press Service/Handout via REUTERS

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia's Defence Ministry said on Thursday that its forces seized two more settlements in their drive through eastern Ukraine, but Kyiv made no such acknowledgement and its top commander said battles raged over 1,100 km of the front line.

The frontline fighting continued as direct talks between Ukrainian and Russian negotiators appeared set to get underway in Turkey.