By Andrew Osborn MOSCOW, Dec 2 (Reuters) - President Vladimir Putin hailed what his commanders said was Russia's full capture of Pokrovsk in eastern Ukraine as an important victory, but the Ukrainian military said its forces still held the northern part of the city.

Russia said on Monday that it had captured the eastern Ukrainian city of Pokrovsk, in claims that Kyiv has yet to confirm or deny.

U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff meets with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow to bring a peace plan to end the nearly four-year war with Ukraine.

Ahead of the meeting, Russia claims to have captured the key eastern city of Pokrovsk, a front-line development Ukraine denies. Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is meeting with political leaders in Ireland on an official visit.

A new headache is emerging for House Speaker Mike Johnson.

President Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner, and special envoy Steve Witkoff are meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin Tuesday to discuss the war in Ukraine.

Putin has repeatedly falsely claimed to capture Ukrainian cities prematurely.

Ukraine’s chief negotiator, in an exclusive interview, says conceding sovereign territory is off-limits in peace talks.

Nonkululeko Mantula, 39, was arrested alongside four men after a tip off, South African police said. She is accused of recruiting the four men and organizing for them to join the Russian army.

As President Trump pushes Ukraine to accept a Russian landgrab in exchange for peace, a wounded soldier asks, "How much more can we give?"