Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is set to visit Berlin on Wednesday amid escalating tensions in the Russia-Ukraine war and shifting Western policies that could shape whether the war moves toward peace or deeper into war.
According to a Reuters report, Russian forces, as on Tuesday, have captured four villages in Ukraine’s northeastern Sumy region, marking a significant setback for Kyiv as it strives to maintain territorial integrity.
The villages — Novenke, Basivka, Veselivka, and Zhuravka — were reportedly occupied after months of intense bombardment, with residents having been evacuated prior to the assaults.
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Sumy Governor Oleh Hryhorov described the Russian advances as attempts to establish a “buffer zone” along the border, added the report.
In response, Ukraine has launched dozens of long-range drone attacks into Russian territory, leading to temporary closures of Moscow’s major airports. These strikes have disrupted civilian life and intensified cross-border tensions.
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President Zelenskyy has warned of potential new Russian offensives in the Sumy, Kharkiv, and Zaporizhzhia regions, citing evidence of increased military preparations.
He accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of obstructing peace efforts, despite recent diplomatic engagements.
Amid these developments, Western countries, including Germany, the UK, France, and the US, have lifted restrictions on arms shipments to Ukraine, enabling Kyiv to strike deeper into Russian-held territories.
“There are no longer any range restrictions on weapons delivered to Ukraine – neither by the British, nor by the French, nor by us, nor by the Americans,” The Guardian quoted him as saying on Monday, following Russia’s largest drone attack on Ukraine of the war to date.
“This means that Ukraine can now defend itself, for example, by attacking military positions in Russia … with very few exceptions, it didn’t do that until recently. It can now do that,” he added.
Reacting to the development, the Kremlin condemned the decision as “dangerous,” warning of potential escalation.
In the United States, President Trump has criticised Russian President Vladimir Putin’s recent actions, calling him “absolutely crazy” following a massive drone barrage that resulted in civilian casualties.
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“I’ve always had a very good relationship with Vladimir Putin of Russia, but something has happened to him. He has gone absolutely CRAZY! He is needlessly killing a lot of people, and I’m not just talking about soldiers. Missiles and drones are being shot into Cities in Ukraine, for no reason whatsoever. I’ve always said that he wants ALL of Ukraine, not just a piece of it, and maybe that’s proving to be right, but if he does, it will lead to the downfall of Russia!” sai