Ukraine Conflict Reaches Day 30 - Negotiations Still Facing Headwinds

LOCAL NEWS

• The conflict in Ukraine has reached day 30 and the assault on Kyiv remains mostly stalled from the Russian side, with Ukraine starting to make counteroffensive moves.
  • Targeting of logistical infrastructure, high-value targets (landing ship) and supply lines has created difficulties for Russia, which has been forced to take defensive positions outside the capital and resort to aerial assaults/shelling of the capital – reducing their offensive capabilities.
  • Ceasefire talks have slowed this week with marginal progress noted and less news flow coming from negotiators as concerns over a military stalemate build. – RTRS, Sky
• Ukraine leaders accuse Moscow of forcibly removing around 402,000 civilians from war torn cities for pressure Kyiv to surrender.
  • In his nightly address, Zelensky urged Ukrainians to keep up their defence and not stop for even a minute. Russia said that these citizens wanted to go to Russia and were not hostages – Sky, bbg
• Russia’s Foreign Ministry said that the decision from the NATO Summit to continue supplying Ukraine with weapons is having terrible results and proves the alliance’s desire for the conflict to continue.
  • US officials said Russia, on the other hand, is running out of precision-guided munitions and will emerge weaker from a military & political position – RIA, RTRS
• The NATO & EU summit saw Western nations continue to add to sanctions against Russia and remove it from the G20, noting that any loopholes would be closed, while Zelensky continued to call for more measures and weaponry.
  • Russia’s MFA said the US economic war against Russia risks completely collapsing bilateral relations and that countries should still act with mutual respect – Tass, IFX