Ukraine war briefing: Zelenskyy doing ‘pretty well’ against Russia, declares Trump

What Happened

On Wednesday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced directives for the Armed Forces of Ukraine and intelligence services to conduct preemptive strikes against Russian facilities supporting the invasion. This follows a series of Ukrainian drone strikes that disrupted power in Russian-controlled Crimea and targeted infrastructure in central and southern Russia. Concurrently, a Russian strike in the village of Novopetrivka, Kherson region, killed two mine disposal experts from the Norwegian People’s Aid and wounded four others, according to Kherson Governor Oleksandr Prokudin. In domestic developments, Maxim Kruglov, deputy leader of the Russian Yabloko party, was sentenced to seven years in prison for criticizing the war on Telegram.

Key Actors

Why It Matters

The escalation of Ukrainian strikes on Russian energy and military infrastructure reflects a strategic shift intended to compel Moscow into negotiations. Simultaneously, the coordination between European NATO leaders and the upcoming summit in Ankara underscore a unified effort to maintain military and financial support for Ukraine, countering Russian attempts to exhaust Western resolve.

Watch For

The NATO summit scheduled for 7-8 July in Ankara, where leaders from 32 nations are expected to finalize a financing commitment for Ukraine. Additionally, monitor the impact of the Ukrainian directive for preemptive strikes on the intensity of Russian retaliatory attacks against Ukrainian infrastructure.