In previous sieges during the almost four years since Russia launched its all-out invasion of its neighbor, Ukraine has pulled out of some places to avoid losing troops. Ukrainian forces are desperately short-handed against Russia’s bigger army.

Russian President Vladimir Putin is now believed to be more dug in than ever, according to a recent intelligence assessment.

The invasion of Ukraine is becoming a long-range missile war, as both sides seek military advantage away from the blood-soaked, muddy, drone-saturated death traps of the eastern Ukraine trenches.

Russian President Vladimir Putin claimed Wednesday that Russian troops have surrounded Ukrainian forces in two key eastern cities of Ukraine and offered to negotiate a deal for their surrender. Ukrainian military officials vigorously denied the claim.

Russian President Vladimir Putin's special envoy Kirill Dmitriev said on Wednesday during a visit to Saudi Arabia that he expected the war in Ukraine to end within a year.

With the Ukraine-Russia war summit between Trump and Putin called off, the world must face a harsh truth as United Nations marks 80th anniversary.