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Top US and Russian officials have held a rare phone call ahead of a high-stakes summit between Presidents Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin in Anchorage, Alaska.

Getting into it: According to Russia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio used the conversation to reaffirm both countries’ commitment to holding “successful” talks later this week. While the US has yet to confirm the full details of the exchange, Russia said that preparations are focused on a possible framework for ending the war in Ukraine (a framework that Trump has hinted could involve territorial concessions on both sides). The timing of the call is notable, coming as Russian forces dig deeper into Ukrainian territory, making their most significant gains in two years.

Based on what’s going on at the front line, it’s clear that Russia has intensified its offensive, which some argue is to strengthen its position ahead of the Anchorage talks. In the last month, Russian troops have advanced to within 10 kilometers of Dobropillya and threatened to cut critical supply routes that connect Ukrainian defenses across the Donetsk region. Pokrovsk, a key logistics hub, is basically encircled, with Russian troops slowly advancing. British intelligence estimates that about 550 square kilometers have been seized in the past month alone.

The gains, however, have come at a steep price. Ukrainian forces report intense fighting along multiple axes, with Russian troops suffering heavy casualties in their attempts to breach fortified positions. Much of Russia’s success has been attributed to its growing advantage in drone warfare and the targeting of Ukrainian logistics far behind the front lines, making it harder for Kyiv to rotate troops or resupply ammunition.

On the ground, Ukraine is scrambling to fortify defensive positions, rushing reinforcements to threatened sectors, and strengthening supply lines already under intense attack from Russian drones and artillery.

This comes as President Zelenskyy warns that Russia is “not preparing to end the war” and is instead laying the groundwork for further offensive operations.