Vladimir Putin has threatened to strike at Kyiv with Moscow’s new ballistic missile, boasting of Russia’s production of advanced missile systems exceeding that of NATO by 10 times. He vowed to respond to the use of Western missiles by Ukraine. Meanwhile, Russia conducted a massive aerial attack on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, leaving one million people without power. President Zelensky condemned the attack as a vile escalation.
In the midst of the conflict, Ukraine is requesting faster military aid from its allies, stating that it is more crucial than drafting more soldiers. Ukrainian officials are urging for quicker delivery of critical battlefield equipment to arm those already mobilized.
On the political front, Russian President Vladimir Putin praised Donald Trump as an experienced and intelligent politician but expressed concerns about his safety following assassination attempts. At the same time, Russia downed 30 Ukrainian drones in the Rostov region, causing damage to private homes but no casualties.
In response to the ongoing war with Russia, Ukraine has imposed its first wartime tax increases, with President Zelensky signing the necessary legislation. These tax hikes are intended to provide additional funding for Ukraine’s defense sector as it continues to battle against a better-equipped enemy. Amidst the conflict, Russia and Ukraine have agreed to return nine children to each other’s families following mediation by Qatar, which has been brokering similar deals since the start of the war.
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