The European Union has given the green light to start membership negotiations with Ukraine, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced in his nightly address. The talks are set to begin next week, marking a significant step in Ukraine’s bid to join the European bloc, a process initiated shortly after the Russian invasion in 2022.
The EU’s decision to move forward with these discussions sends a powerful message to Russia, underscoring the bloc’s steadfast support for Ukraine, both politically and financially. Additionally, the EU has approved a negotiating framework for Ukraine’s neighbor, Moldova, further solidifying its commitment to strengthening ties with Eastern Europe.
“It is important that every country, every society that truly professes European values and aspires to real European strength — that every such nation — be together with all the others in a united Europe,” Zelenskyy stated, highlighting the broader implications of Ukraine’s potential membership.
Meanwhile, the Kremlin has expressed willingness for security talks with the United States, provided that the conflict in Ukraine is a central topic. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov emphasized the necessity of dialogue between the U.S. and Russia to address numerous global security issues.
“This kind of dialogue is very much required because problems are piling up, and there are a lot of problems associated with the global security architecture,” Peskov said during a briefing, in response to questions about potential discussions on nuclear risks separate from the Ukrainian conflict.
Peskov’s comments followed recent rejections by both the United States and NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg of the notion that providing arms to Ukraine equates to “direct involvement” in the conflict.
In a related development, the White House announced it would prioritize the delivery of advanced air defense missiles to Ukraine, following a surge of Russian missile and drone attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure. National security spokesperson John Kirby stated that hundreds of Patriot and NASAMS missiles would be sent to Ukraine ahead of other nations’ orders due to the urgent need created by these attacks.
As tensions escalate, Russian President Vladimir Putin issued a stern warning to South Korea against supplying arms to Ukraine. This warning comes after South Korean officials suggested reconsidering their stance on sending arms in response to a new defense pact between Russia and North Korea. Putin described such a move by South Korea as “a very big mistake,” implying potential retaliatory measures.
Ukraine, undeterred by Russian aggression, launched its own counterattacks on Russian territories, targeting oil refineries, radar installations, and intelligence centers in southern Russia and occupied Crimea. The Ukrainian general staff reported strikes on a fuel and chemical warehouse in Russia’s Tambov region and the “Enemska” oil depot in the Republic of Adygea. Russia reported one fatality and claimed to have “neutralized” 114 Ukrainian drones.
In Ukraine, the national power provider Ukrenergo announced severe damage to a thermal plant following overnight attacks, which injured three workers. This has led to the implementation of hourly rolling blackouts across the country, as Russian strikes have significantly reduced Ukraine’s power-generating capabilities.
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