Pakistan, July 2 -- KYIV - A Russian-appointed official has claimed that Moscow's forces now fully occupy Ukraine's Luhansk region, one of the four territories illegally annexed by Russia in 2022. If true, this marks the first region completely seized after more than three years of war.

Leonid Pasechnik, the Moscow-installed leader in Luhansk, told Russia's state TV that he received a report confirming "100%" control of the region by Russian troops. Kyiv has not yet officially responded to the statement.

This development comes as international peace efforts continue to stall. Russian President Vladimir Putin has refused to agree to a ceasefire and insists on keeping control of the annexed regions, deepening the deadlock in negotiations....