Moscow currently holds the upper hand in this industrialized conflict, and Kiev is struggling to match Moscow's forces, weapons, and tactics.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has acknowledged that time is running out for a diplomatic solution favorable to Ukraine, which is why he recently held peace talks in Switzerland.
It was about building global support for peace on his terms. Nearly 80 countries have signed the agreement, but important regional powers in Africa, the Middle East and South Asia have not.
Russia was not invited, but before the meeting Vladimir Putin called for Ukrainian troops to withdraw from four regions it partially occupies.
His terms are not only unrealistic but also extreme, but his superiority on the battlefield means that any potential peace agreement may better accommodate his terms than Kiiu's.
President Zelensky admits that his priority is simply to hold the front line. If his troops can do that before autumn and more difficult combat conditions arrive, it will be considered a success.
He also insists there are still plans for a future counterattack.
If Oleksy survives the defense of the Kharkiv region, he may return to the “hellish” river crossing in southern Ukraine.
Additional reporting by Anastasiia Levchenko and Hanna Chornous
