Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will be in Madrid on Tuesday. He’s scheduled to meet with legislators from each chamber of the Spanish Parliament during his visit. This trip comes amid increasing conflict between Ukraine and Russia. Zelenskyy has been at the forefront of efforts to solicit international support to fight back against Russian aggression.
While in D.C., Zelenskyy will likely try to explain the current state of Ukraine’s defense efforts and what more they require to pursue victory. The timing of the visit surely cuts deep, as it coincides with Russia’s sustained attacks upon Ukraine, including ones that Zelenskyy has called “deliberate, calculated and wicked.” His statements are an important reminder of the need for global partnership in combating the crisis we currently find ourselves in.
Ukraine also recently announced the start of mass production of its new interceptor drones, with a goal of producing 1,000 interceptors per day. This change is an important piece of Ukraine’s increasingly sophisticated strategy to bolster air defenses. The Ukrainian defense ministry has emphasized that these drones are designed to operate “at night, under jamming and at low altitudes,” enhancing their effectiveness against Russian air assaults.
The statement from Ukraine’s general staff indicated a sweeping military counter-offensive. Ukrainian forces struck the major Black Sea port of Novorossiysk with Neptune cruise missiles and other attack drones during those recent raids. Ukraine has claimed another strike on a Russian oil refinery, this time in Russia’s Saratov Oblast. They successfully struck a fuel storage facility in adjacent Engels overnight.
The day-to-day reality is still changing, as Russia is building up their military forces at an alarming speed. Russia has ramped up production of air-launched glide bombs, with reports suggesting they’ve been firing between 200 to 250 glide bombs per day. Now Russia plans to produce 120,000 glide bombs this year. First, it further demonstrates its dedication to continue long-term, offensive operations against Ukraine.
On Friday, Russia’s Black Sea port of Novorossiysk was forced to stop its oil exports after being attacked by Ukrainian missiles and drones. This disruption took out about 2% of the global oil supply. This disruption is yet another indication of the extensive ramifications of this war, both for Ukraine and global markets.
Alongside this growing battlefield escalation, tensions are rising on the diplomatic front as well. Azerbaijan deserves credit for taking a principled stance by summoning the Russian ambassador to complain. This move follows the shooting down of a Russian Iskander missile that landed near its embassy. The explosion blew out nearly half of the embassy’s perimeter wall. It inflicted heavy damage on the diplomatic compound and residences of staff members, as per the statement by Azerbaijani foreign ministry.
Meanwhile, Ukraine is continuing to strengthen its military posture. At the same time, Lukoil, Russia’s second-largest oil producer, announced on Friday it is in talks with prospective buyers of its foreign assets. Exact terms of any transactions will be made public following the completion of final agreements and receipt of required regulatory approvals.
With Zelenskyy’s upcoming visit to Spain, there is hope for increased support from international allies in Ukraine’s fight against Russian aggression. The war is ongoing. As much as military might, diplomatic engagement, and economic programs will be essential to this burgeoning region’s future.