Russia Attacks Ukraine as Zelenskyy Seeks Renewed US Support
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is seeking increased American and European aid as Russia continues its missile and drone strikes on civilian areas.
Russia launched a new wave of missile and drone attacks across Ukraine, killing at least seven people, officials reported Tuesday. The strikes come as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is in Norway seeking further military and financial assistance from Western allies.
Zelenskyy expressed concern over the pace of U.S. support, telling a bipartisan group of American lawmakers that he believes a "political decision" has been made to slow down aid. He specifically mentioned a near depletion of Patriot air defense interceptors, crucial for countering Russian ballistic missiles, and noted delays in the Pentagon's delivery of these munitions, even when purchased by other nations.
Ukraine has also experienced a lack of timely intelligence warnings about Russian missile attacks, according to Zelenskyy. He is also seeking to ensure continued sharing of vital intelligence from the United States. Furthermore, speed restrictions on the battlefield use of SpaceX's Starshield satellite internet service are hampering operations.
These developments occur amid a backdrop of strained relations between Zelenskyy and former U.S. President Donald Trump, who previously waived sanctions on Russia. European leaders, viewing Ukraine as a bulwark against Russian expansionism, are attempting to compensate for any potential decrease in U.S. supplies. However, some critical military assets are American-made.
According to the Kiel Institute, European countries and EU institutions have allocated approximately 237 billion euros ($266 billion) to Ukraine, compared to $129 billion from the U.S.
In the latest attacks, at least four people were killed and 27 wounded, including children, in the Kyiv region. Warehouses were damaged in the Obukhiv district, and numerous buildings were affected in the Bucha district. On Tuesday morning, two vehicles were hit on the Kyiv-Odesa highway, killing three people, including the driver of a shuttle bus. National grid operator Ukrenergo reported power outages in 12 regions.
The Russian Defense Ministry stated its forces targeted logistics centers and port infrastructure in Ukraine's Odesa region, reporting drone strikes on port facilities and vessels. The ministry also claimed that air defenses intercepted 136 Ukrainian drones over multiple Russian regions overnight, leading to a fire at an industrial facility in the Tambov region.