In recent weeks, the war in Ukraine has become focused on the Donbass in the southeast of

the country, and in particular, around one city.

Siviradanisk, Zbysumkomun, Siviradanisk remains the center of the confrontation in Donbass.

This is a very fierce battle, a very difficult one, probably the most difficult of the war.

Russia's top diplomat says, liberating the Danyetsk and Yohansk region is his country's unconditional priority.

Could the fierce battle for one city be pivotal in determining the course of the rest of the war?

This battle for Siviradanisk and for the Donbass is now really crucial.

If the Ukrainians can win that battle, then they can go on the offensive.

If the Russians do manage to take all of the Donbass, then I think it's a very different

matter. I think you're probably then in for a very long conflict.

What's happening on the ground in the Donbass and will either side be willing to negotiate

over the territory for the sake of peace?

You're listening to stories of our times from the times and the Sunday times. I'm Manvin

Rana. Today, Ukraine, the fight for the Donbass.

It's a curious thing covering this sort of war. I'm used to the wars in the Middle East,

which are a different type of war. The front lines, when there are front lines in these

wars, are often either dominated by fairly uncoordinated, badly organised, front line fighting.

It's just random people firing round corners at each other. Once you've worked out, who

was good at that and who was bad at that and where you make sure you kept behind a war,

you're probably okay.

For the last few months, the Times Middle East correspondent Richard Spencer has been

swapping conflict zones like Iraq and Syria for Ukraine. He's just arrived back from a

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