Russian Presidential Assistant Yuri Ushakov  asserted that the continued military advances by Russian forces in the special military operation zone were instrumental in creating a "favorable environment"  for this week's extensive Russian-American negotiations. Ushakov told VGTRK journalist Pavel Zarubin that Russia is "advancing confidently, and no one can deny it, including the Americans." The talks, which lasted nearly five hours, were described as a "not easy" road focusi