Ukraine and Russia look to break deadlock in battle for Pokrovsk

A Ukrainian soldier walks past damaged buildings in central Pokrovsk, in the Donetsk region of Ukraine (Michael Shtekel/AP)

A critical moment for the future of Ukraine’s Donetsk region is approaching as the battle for the city of Pokrovsk reaches a key stage, with Russian and Ukrainian forces so enmeshed that in some cases they are vying for control of the same residential building.

But far from the battlefields of eastern Ukraine, Pokrovsk is also critical to a diplomatic struggle, as both Russia and Ukraine attempt to convince US President Donald Trump that they have the upper hand in the fighting and the other side is weaker.