War in Ukraine rages on as Putin's 3-day ceasefire nears: updates in maps
More than three years after Russia invaded Ukraine and just days ahead of a three-day ceasefire declared by Russian President Vladimir Putin, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called on allies to increase their pressure on Putin to end the conflict.
"We believe that without increased pressure, Russia will not take real practical steps to end the war. Today marks the 54th day that Russia has ignored even the American proposal to completely cease fire," Zelenskyy told reporters during a May 4 joint news conference in Prague with Czech President Petr Pavel.
"We believe that a ceasefire is possible at any moment, even starting today, and should last at least 30 days to give diplomacy a real chance."
Putin last week declared a three-day ceasefire over May 8-10 to mark the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Soviet Union and its allies over Nazi Germany in World War Two. But the pause comes amid a backdrop of daily skirmishes, largely by drone warfare.
Here's where things stand at the moment:
What does Ukraine still control?
According to the Institute for the Study of War, here's the current picture of Russian and Ukrainian control. Both sides have ramped up cross-border drone warfare, often going deeper into each country's territory. Ukraine's drone strikes on May 6 forced the closure of 13 Russian airports, including four major Moscow airports. The same day, Russian drones targeted the Ukrainian cities of Kharkiv, Sumy and Odesa.
What is the U.S. minerals agreement with Ukraine?
Zelenskyy's call for increased pressure comes on the heels of an agreement signed last week that gives the United States preferential access to Ukraine's mineral resources in return for greater American investment in the country's eventual reconstruction.
With its diverse geological zones, Ukraine holds more than 5% of the world's total mineral resources and is a top 10 global provider for coveted minerals like graphite, lithium and titanium.
The agreement paves the way for what the U.S. Treasury Department describes as a "reconstruction investment fund" that would accelerate Ukraine's recovery from the tens of billions of dollars in damage to roads, schools, apartment buildings and other key infrastructure. The mineral deal also signals to Russia that the United States has a deeper investment in facilitating the peace process.
Janet Loehrke contributed to this report.
SOURCES Reuters; Institute for the Study of War