The capture of Ukrainsk underscored Russia’s steady advances in the Donetsk region. Ukraine is trying to counter with strikes on Russian military infrastructure.

"We think it lays out a strategy and a plan that can work," she said. Miller told a news briefing Blinken had learned about the plan during a visit to Kyiv and shared the ambassador's assessment. He said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy had said he looked forward to presenting the plan in detail to President Joe Biden.