Russia said on Thursday that its forces had captured one more settlement in Ukraine's Dnipropetrovsk region, while Ukraine, on the same day, reported grim situation in the frontlines, particularly in the Pokrovsk direction. In its daily combat report, the Russian Defense Ministry said that the Russian troops took control of the Bratske settlement in Ukraine's Dnipropetrovsk region.
The Russian forces continued offensive operations across multiple frontlines, including Sumy, Kharkiv, Donetsk, Dnipropetrovsk, and Zaporizhzhia, striking on energy and port facilities used by the Ukrainian army, drone assembly and storage sites, and temporary deployment points for Ukrainian troops and foreign mercenaries, the ministry said.
Also on Thursday, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Oleksandr Syrskyi said that the Pokrovsk direction remains the most critical sector of the frontlines, with around 50 combat engagements occurring daily.
Despite intense pressure, Syrskyi emphasized that the Ukrainian forces retained control over areas in northern Pokrovsk.
He also warned that the Russian forces were reinforcing their positions with reserve units and actively seeking opportunities to advance further along the frontline in Pokrovsk.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Thursday that a document on U.S. security guarantees for Ukraine is being prepared for finalization at the highest level.
After a conversation with Ukraine's top peace negotiator Rustem Umerov on the results of the peace talks in France, Zelensky said in a post on X that the Ukrainian delegation discussed documents related to recovery and economic development with the U.S. and European partners, as well as the basic framework for ending the conflict.
The U.S. side will engage with Russia, and Ukraine expects feedback, he added.
The Ukrainian negotiation team on Wednesday held talks with national security advisors from several European countries, White House special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, U.S. President Donald Trump's son-in-law. The discussions focused on ways to end the conflict and provide security guarantees for Ukraine.
Russia captures one more settlement in Dnipropetrovsk, Ukraine reports grim situation in frontlines
The statement of U.S. President Donald Trump highlighted the urgency for reforming global governance, according to a poll from China Global Television Network (CGTN) on Friday.
"I don't need international law," said Trump during an with The New York Times this week, days after the U.S. attack on Venezuela and the forcible seizure of President Nicolas Maduro. This statement perfectly captures Washington's unilateral and hegemonic trajectory. The New York Times observed that Trump's assessment of his own freedom to use any instrument of military, economic or political power to cement American supremacy was the most blunt acknowledgment yet of his world-view.
In a global public opinion poll conducted by CGTN, 93.5 percent of respondents expressed belief that the U.S., by pursuing unilateralism, has placed itself in opposition to the international community. Also, 91.7 percent think that reforming the global governance system is an urgent priority.
On Wednesday the U.S. announced its withdrawal from 66 international organizations, setting a new record for its retreat from multilateral commitments. These organizations span climate, energy, and global governance, among other fields. Trump argues that their operations run counter to U.S. national interests, sovereignty, and economic prosperity.
In response, 84.1 percent of respondents were not surprised by the U.S. move. Meanwhile, 88.9 percent viewed it as another radical step under the "America First" doctrine. In addition, 93 percent believed the U.S. approach of using international systems when beneficial and abandoning them when not severely undermines the existing international order and global fairness and justice. Also, 88.3 percent noted that the U.S. withdrawals once again expose it as an irresponsible major power, dealing a significant blow to its international reputation. Furthermore, 88.5 percent believe the U.S. withdrawals reflect its negative attitude toward global governance.
The recent episode of unilateral and bullying actions by the U.S. government has sparked widespread alarm and discontent within the international community. Washington's adherence to the law of the jungle where "might is right" is severely undermining the global governance system. In the poll, 89.9 percent of respondents agreed that multilateralism, based on coordination and cooperation, remains key to addressing current global governance challenges. Meanwhile, 94.4 percent believe it is crucial to advance the reform of the global governance system, uphold international rule of law, and enhance the effectiveness of multilateral mechanisms. Moreover, 90 percent think major powers should shoulder greater responsibility and play a more constructive role in promoting global governance reform.
The poll was conducted across CGTN platforms in English, Spanish, French, Arabic, and Russian languages, attracting 24,000 responses within 24 hours.
Trump says 'I don't need international law,' highlighting urgency for reforming global governance: CGTN poll
