Germany’s Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy are in agreement that Russia should be included in future peace conferences to end the war in Ukraine. Scholz emphasized the need for increased efforts to resolve the conflict quickly. The previous international peace conference in Switzerland saw 78 countries express support for Ukraine’s territorial integrity, but Russia’s absence left the path forward unclear. Scholz is facing political discontent over his government’s support for Ukraine, especially after populist parties opposing arming Kyiv gained ground in recent state elections.
At a recent Ukraine Defence Contact Group meeting, Zelenskyy urged attendees to speed up military hardware deliveries to the battlefield and requested permission to strike targets deeper inside Russia. The US, UK, and Germany announced additional military aid packages to support Ukraine. Zelenskyy emphasized the need to strengthen Ukraine’s position and protect its cities from Russian aggression.
On the battlefield, the governor of Russia’s Belgorod region claimed that Ukrainian shelling damaged residential buildings in the village of Nikolskoe, injuring three people. Russia’s Defence Ministry reported the downing of drones in the Belgorod and Kursk regions. In Ukraine, fierce fighting near the town of Pokrovsk has resulted in power outages after a Russian airstrike hit a local electricity substation. Despite evacuation efforts, more than 20,000 residents remain in Pokrovsk. The situation remains volatile as both sides continue to engage in conflict.
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