Moscow said it captured territory shortly before potential peace talks begin in Saudi Arabia.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said his country is “fully committed” to having constructive talks with United States representatives in Saudi Arabia, as Russia announced new gains both inside Ukrainian and Russian territory.

US and Ukrainian negotiators are set to meet in the Red Sea city of Jeddah on Tuesday, with US President Donald Trump’s administration vying to secure a ceasefire and a “framework” for a peace agreement in the three-year conflict.

The Russian Ministry of Defence said in a briefing on Monday that its forces had taken the small village of Novenke in Ukraine’s northeastern Sumy region.

Russia briefly occupied parts of Ukraine’s Sumy at the start of its all-out invasion in 2022 but has not taken any territory there since. Ukraine has not yet commented on Russia’s claim to have captured Novenke, which analysts say could bring Russian troops closer to blocking a major Ukrainian supply route.

The ministry also announced the recapture of the villages of Lebedevka, Malaya Loknya, Cherkasskoye Porechnoye and Kositsa in its western Kursk region. Ukraine hoped that Russian territory it controls in Kursk would give it leverage during any talks but it has been losing ground there rapidly over recent days to Russian assaults.

In his evening address on Sunday, Zelenskyy said: “I want to thank all our units who are steadfastly and against all odds destroying the occupier, repelling attacks and defending our positions.

“Diplomacy will be strong only on strong front-line positions. And we are doing our best to ensure that Ukraine’s front-line needs are met.”

Since taking office in January, Trump has upended the US’s wartime policies, engaging directly with Russia while cutting off military aid and intelligence sharing for Ukraine.

Tuesday’s talks between US and Ukrainian officials – the first official meeting since a disastrous Oval Office encounter between Zelenskuy
and Trump later last month – are expected to focus on a bilateral minerals deal and how to end the fighting.

“Ukraine has been seeking peace from the very first second of this war. Realistic proposals are on the table. The key is to move quickly and effectively,” Zelenskyy said on X.

He confirmed on Saturday that he would visit Saudi Arabia next week and that after meeting Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on Monday, Ukrainian diplomatic and military representatives would stay for a meeting on Tuesday with US officials.

Trump said on Sunday that he expected good results out of the upcoming talks, adding that the US had “just about” ended a suspension of intelligence sharing with Kyiv.