Ukrainian forces exploit Russian communication disruptions to mount successful counteroffensive east of Zaporizhzhia, pushing back enemy advances.

The second day of negotiations between Ukraine and Russia ended after just two hours.

KYIV, Feb 18 (Reuters) - Ukraine imposed sanctions against Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko on Wednesday, vowing to "increase countermeasures" against Minsk for its wartime assistance to Russia.

"We can state that Russia is trying to drag out negotiations that could already have reached the final stage."

The U.S. is brokering a 3rd round of Russia-Ukraine talks, but there's little hope of a breakthrough to end the deadliest war on European soil in 80 years.

A rally marking the fourth anniversary of Russia’s war in Ukraine is set to take place in Seattle on Sunday. The assembly will start at 11:30 a.m. Sunday at Pike Place Market before marching to Seattle Center’s mural amphitheater. A rally at the amphitheater will then last from 1-3 p.m.

Russia has lost around 1,257,880 troops in Ukraine since the beginning of its full-scale invasion on Feb. 24, 2022, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported on Feb. 20. The number includes 970 casualties that Russian forces suffered over the past day.

As the Ukraine war nears its fifth year, a new report alleges Russia is recruiting vulnerable foreign nationals through deceptive tactics that may amount to human trafficking.