Volodymyr Zelensky says Ukraine 's battlefield position is the strongest it has been in some time, after his forces recaptured territory through a series of offensives.

Zelensky revealed details of the previously secret Operation Veles, where Ukrainian troops used underground gas pipelines to outflank Russian positions near Kupiansk in the northeast.

He also referred to an air assault operation in eastern Ukraine and Operation Vivaldi further north, aimed at preventing Russian advances in key areas.

His remarks came as Finland 's president and the Norwegian prime minister held a rare direct phone call with Russian president Vladimir Putin .

Finnish president Alexander Stubb and Norway 's Jonas Gahr Stoere spoke to Putin for around 90 minutes on Tuesday before holding a separate conversation with Zelensky.

While Kyiv says it was involved in planning for the phone call, it has drawn criticism from other European leaders, many of whom are opposed to direct engagement with the Russian leader.

The Kremlin…