Zelenskyy's Assurance on U.S. Military Aid

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has confirmed that U.S. military aid to Ukraine remains unaffected, despite recent announcements from newly appointed U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio regarding a 90-day pause on foreign aid grants. During a press conference with Moldovan President Maia Sandu, Zelenskyy expressed gratitude stating, "I am focused on military aid; it has not been stopped, thank God." He, however, did not provide clarity on whether humanitarian aid has also been put on hold. Notably, Ukraine heavily relies on the U.S. for approximately 40% of its military supplies.

Support for Moldova Amid Energy Crisis

In addition to military support, Zelenskyy extended an offer of coal to Moldova, which is currently facing a severe energy crisis exacerbated by diminished Russian gas supplies. Moldova’s government has directly accused Moscow of engineering an energy shortage, which has resulted in soaring energy prices, particularly in regions controlled by pro-Russian separatists, leading to daily power outages. "Russia’s latest move has been to orchestrate an energy crisis," President Sandu informed reporters.

Zelenskyy's Remarks on U.S. Diplomacy

Amid these critical developments, Zelenskyy commented on the potential for U.S. President Donald Trump to fulfill his past promises of ending the war in Ukraine, emphasizing the necessity of including Kyiv in any negotiations. However, he expressed skepticism about the clarity of any agreements that might arise, largely attributing this uncertainty to Russian President Vladimir Putin’s lack of genuine interest in peace talks. Putin has expressed openness to negotiations with Trump but Zelenskyy insists that Ukraine’s involvement is essential for any dialogue to yield significant results.

Protests in Slovakia

Simultaneously, protests erupted in Slovakia as Prime Minister Robert Fico faced mounting pressure to resign after shifting the country's foreign policy closer to Russia. Approximately 60,000 demonstrated in Bratislava alone, marking the largest protests since Fico resumed leadership in 2023.

Casualties in Kherson Region

On the front lines, tragedy struck as shelling in the Russian-occupied Kherson region claimed the lives of three civilians. The Moscow-installed governor Vladimir Saldo has urged residents near the frontline to seek shelter to avoid the bombardment.

Escalation of Attacks

The situation escalated further when Russian forces launched missile and drone attacks against Ukraine. Over the weekend, Ukrainian air defenses reported shooting down both incoming missiles and a significant number of Shahed drones. Despite the defensive success, some drones managed to inflict damage in various regions, including Kyiv, Cherkasy, and Khmelnytskyi, while additional airstrikes in Kharkiv led to injuries among civilians.

Importance of International Support

As the conflict rages on with no end in sight, the necessity for robust international support for Ukraine remains imperative. The involvement of major global players in diplomatic discussions may determine the future landscape of not only Ukraine but the broader region as well.