Zelensky says Ukraine forces have liberated MORE villages from retreating Russian troops

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky says his forces have liberated more villages from Putin‘s retreating troops – as the US claims it is a ‘very real possibility’ that Crimea could be recaptured if the counter-offensive continues at its current rate.

Mr Zelensky this evening said a further three villages in the country’s southern Kherson region have been recaptured from Russian troops.

Speaking in his nightly video address, the president said the Novovoskresenske, Novogrygorivka and Petropavlivka had been liberated ‘in the last 24 hours’, adding that the counter-offensive ‘continues’,

The progress of Ukrainian forces comes a day after Mr Zelensky ruled out peace talks with Putin and vowed to ‘oust the occupier from all of our land’ as he boasted of his troops hammering Russian soldiers.

He said negotiations with his counterpart are now impossible following his decision to rubber-stamp the annexation of four regions of the country.

He also said his forces were making ‘rapid and…