Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky described Russian claims that his forces had completely captured the city of Konstantinovka in the Donetsk region as “lies.”
“This is just another Russian lie to spread some news.” He said Zelensky. In his opinion, on the eve of American Independence Day, Vladimir Putin decided to lie to President Donald Trump about the situation on the front.
The Ukrainian leader added: “If Konstantinovka is now under Russian control, Putin will probably have no problem meeting with me there and finding diplomatic solutions to finally end the war. However, he will not cross the front: the truth is very different from Putin’s words.”
Late in the evening of July 3, the Kremlin published a message on Russian television channels and state news agencies about Putin’s visit to one of the command centers of the Joint Group of Russian Forces. There, at a meeting, the Russian President was informed that the Russian Armed Forces had completely captured Konstantinovka.
The battles for control of Konstantinovka have been continuing since October 2025. In recent weeks, Russian attack aircraft have been spotted in all areas of the city, but the positions of the Ukrainian Armed Forces also remain within its borders.
“Agency” edition NotesPutin’s visit to the army on July 3 is the first in six months. Journalists assume that the meeting took place during the day, but reports about it were not published until the evening. Thus, Putin’s statements came at the end of the working day in the United States, at an appropriate time for Washington, on whose mediation Russia is counting.