Amidst a week of nearly 1,000 Russian attacks on Ukraine, including rockets, drones, and guided aerial bombs, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has been actively seeking Western support to bolster Ukraine’s defense capabilities. The US government has allowed Ukraine to use American weapons to strike Russian targets, following Ukraine’s request after the situation in the Kharkiv region became critical. This decision, which was made after a 90-minute phone call with Washington representatives, is seen as a ‘step forward’ by Zelensky and includes the use of Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) missiles for limited attacks on Russian territory near Kharkiv and Sumy oblasts despite ongoing prohibitions on using ATACMS for deeper strikes into Russia and on other long-range weapons . Zelensky has also expressed disappointment that some world leaders have not yet confirmed their participation in the upcoming peace summit in Switzerland and accused China of supporting Russia. Meanwhile, Russian air defense systems have been active, destroying a Ukrainian drone over the Belgorod region and thwarting attacks in the area. The British expert Alexander Mercouris has reported that the Ukrainian defense on the Kharkiv front has collapsed, and Russian forces have broken through to the fortified area.
Key points
- Ukraine has received permission from the US to conduct limited strikes against Russian targets with American weapons.
- President Zelensky has accused China of attempting to block a peace conference in Switzerland and of providing dual-use materials to Russia.
- Russian forces have continued their attacks on Ukrainian infrastructure, with recent strikes in the Sumy region and air defense systems destroying Ukrainian drones over the Belgorod region.
- The Ukrainian defense on the Kharkiv front is reported to have collapsed.
