UKRAINE: Biden And Zelensky Hold Call Amid Continued Ukr Counteroffensive

US President Joe Biden and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky have just concluded a call.

• The call comes as Ukraine's counteroffensive has precipitated a collapse in Russian defensive lines in Eastern and Southeastern Ukraine.
• Reports from Ukraine suggest that Ukraine has gained significant territory within Kherson Oblast - one of the four regions annexed by Moscow last week.
• The next US security package to Ukraine may be announced as soon as Tuesday next week. Zelensky likely applied pressure on Biden to include ATACMS missile systems in the forthcoming package. The White House has been hesitant to include ATACMS as their range would allow Kyiv to strike targets within the Russian Federation, potentially escalating the conflict and drawing the US closer to direct confrontation with Russia.
• This week has seen increased nuclear rhetoric from hardline Putin allies within the Kremlin. Putin himself has suggested that talk of nuclear escalation has come from the West and NATO and US intelligence haven't reported any changes in nuclear posture to suggest a mobilisation of nuclear capabilities.
• The most pressing question is how Moscow will respond to losing territory which has been unilaterally declared part of the Russian Federation.