Fighting has raged in Ukraine since Russia launched a full-scale invasion more than three years ago. Russian forces have slowly expanded the amount of territory they control over the past year, mostly in the east of Ukraine, and have continued their recent barrage of air strikes on Kyiv and other cities.
With hours to go until a deadline set by US President Donald Trump for Russia to agree to a ceasefire or face further sanctions, here is a recap of recent significant events and the situation in Ukraine.
In eastern Ukraine, Moscow's war machine has been churning mile by mile through the wide open fields of the Luhansk and Donetsk regions, surrounding and overwhelming villages and towns.
It has been trying to gain full control of the two regions along with two more - Zaporizhzhia and Kherson. Shortly after the invasion, Russia held referendums to try to annexe the regions but it never had full control and the front line has barely moved for two years. It had annexed Crimea in 2014.
Ukrainian forces have faced superior Russian manpower on the front lines throughout the war, but reported shortages in the east have left a key Russian target increasingly vulnerable.
