Russia

Kyiv, Ukraine — Russian forces launched a barrage of missiles and drones targeting the Kyiv region and five other areas in Ukraine during a nighttime attack on Wednesday. This assault comes as international diplomatic activities ramp up to address the ongoing conflict that has entered its third year.

Ukraine’s air force reported shooting down 29 out of 30 air targets, including four cruise missiles, one Kinzhal ballistic missile, and 24 Shahed drones. Despite the successful interception, several people sustained injuries. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy lauded the air force’s efforts, emphasizing that such defensive successes could become routine if Ukraine received additional air defense systems. He reiterated his call for Western allies to provide more support, particularly air defense technology. In response, the United States has committed to sending another Patriot missile system, according to two U.S. officials.

The intensifying attacks coincide with a series of significant international meetings aimed at bolstering Ukraine’s defense and exploring pathways to peace. Leaders from the Group of Seven (G7) rich democracies, including U.S. President Joe Biden, are set to convene in Italy on Thursday for their annual summit. A key agenda item will be strategizing on how to channel more funds to Ukraine by leveraging frozen Russian assets.

On the same day, defense chiefs from the U.S., Europe, and other nations will gather in Brussels for their monthly discussion on Ukraine’s security needs. U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin will host this meeting, underscoring the urgency of addressing Ukraine’s military requirements as the conflict drags on.

Adding to the flurry of diplomatic activity, Switzerland will host a peace summit next weekend, drawing representatives from nearly 90 countries and organizations, including numerous European nations. Notably, Russia will not participate in this summit, highlighting the ongoing international isolation of Moscow.

Ukraine continues to face severe challenges on the battlefield. Its forces, outgunned and outnumbered, are striving to hold back the larger Russian army. Recent months have seen Ukrainian troops struggling with shortages of personnel, ammunition, and air defenses as Russian forces aim to disrupt national power supplies and break through front lines in the eastern regions. Military analysts suggest that Ukraine must endure the summer onslaught, train more soldiers, fortify defenses, and hope for an acceleration in Western military aid to potentially mount its own offensive in 2025.

Meanwhile, Russia’s efforts have been marked by incremental and costly gains. In the northeastern Kharkiv region, Russian units have been bogged down in the town of Vovchansk, according to Ukraine’s Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi. The Kremlin’s forces have also been concentrating their efforts on the partly occupied Donetsk region in eastern Ukraine, with an eye on strategic hubs like the hilltop city of Chasiv Yar.

The human toll of Europe’s largest conflict since World War II is staggering, with tens of thousands of casualties on both sides, including over 11,000 Ukrainian civilian deaths reported by the United Nations. As Ukraine looks to its Western allies for continued support, Russian President Vladimir Putin has sought assistance from nations like Iran and North Korea. Reports suggest that Putin may soon make a third visit to North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, further indicating the lengths to which Russia is going to secure resources for its war effort.

As the war grinds on, the international community remains divided, with both sides reaching out to friendly nations for military and economic support. The upcoming diplomatic engagements will be crucial in shaping the future course of the conflict and the prospects for a resolution.