Key facts
- Russia proposed a temporary ceasefire in Kostiantynivka on July 6 for a humanitarian body handover.
- The Kremlin suggested Ukrainian President Zelensky meet President Putin in Moscow.
- Conflicting reports emerged regarding Kostiantynivka's control by Russian forces.
- Ukraine's General Staff maintains control of Kostiantynivka despite ongoing fighting.
- Kostiantynivka is a strategically important city in Ukraine's eastern defensive line.
Russia has proposed a temporary ceasefire in the front-line city of Kostiantynivka to allow for the handover of fallen Ukrainian soldiers' bodies. The ceasefire, proposed for July 6 from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. Moscow time, requires Ukraine to notify Russia of its decision by noon on July 5.
Concurrently, the Kremlin suggested that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky should travel to Moscow to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin, rather than proposing a meeting in the contested city. This proposal follows conflicting reports from Russian officials regarding the status of Kostiantynivka.
Earlier, Russian state media and Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov claimed the city was under full Russian control. However, Russia's Defense Ministry later stated that fighting was ongoing. President Zelensky dismissed the capture claims as a 'Russian lie,' suggesting that if the city were under Russian control, Putin would have no issue meeting him there.
Ukraine's General Staff has rejected the Russian assertions, maintaining that Kostiantynivka remains under Ukrainian control despite Russian infantry incursions and heavy fighting. Military analysts also report Russian forces are on the outskirts and attempting to advance. Kostiantynivka is a crucial city in Ukraine's eastern defensive line, vital for Russia's objective to occupy all of Donetsk Oblast.