Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that Ukrainian and European officials will convene to discuss a ceasefire plan, as hostilities continue to escalate between Ukraine and Russia. This meeting comes at a time when military aggression is intensifying. For the third consecutive night, Ukraine has hit Moscow with drones, forcing Russian officials to halt flights at multiple major airports.
During a press briefing, Zelenskyy stated, “This is a plan to begin diplomacy … Our advisers will meet in the coming days, we agreed on Friday or Saturday. They will discuss the details of this plan.” The need for timely negotiations has skyrocketed. As drone strikes escalate, Ukraine is increasingly engaging military and industrial infrastructure within the territory of Russia, with a focus on the Budyonnovsk industrial zone of Stavropol Krai.
As the war rages on, President Zelenskyy announced earlier this week that Ukraine would begin producing and exporting certain arms starting next month. This long overdue move will further strengthen Ukraine’s defensive capabilities, enhancing Ukraine’s ongoing military efforts against brutal Russian aggression. Zelenskyy previously tripled drone production to cover 50% of the army’s requests. This step underlines the significant role that drone warfare has played in this continuing conflict.
As the tides of conflict are drastically changing with Russia increasing their tactics of war, intimidation and assassinations. President Vladimir Putin has directed a raising of 180,000 additional active troops, bringing the total to nearly 1.5 million. This decision underscores Russia’s massive escalation of the war. It is trying to regroup and rearm its forces, even as it continues to experience dramatic losses on the front lines.
Russian leaders have repeatedly denied that conscripts will be sent to Ukraine. According to reports, many have experienced coercion to execute these agreements as a condition of their volunteer status. Indeed, the Russian parliament is already considering a permanent draft, which might upend Russia’s military situation even more.
Poland has moved quickly, tightening their border with Belarus since September 12. This decision is a necessary and appropriate response to recent, alarming developments, including the troubling consequences of Russia-led military exercises and the violation of Polish airspace by Russian drones. Polish PM Donald Tusk said today that his government would be reopening two of those crossings with Belarus — Kuźnica-Bruzgi and Bobrowniki. This decision reflects a prudent judgment about increasing regional security.
Lithuania has reacted by shutting down its crossings with Belarus after reports of balloons transversing the border. These actions reflect heightened tensions in Eastern Europe as neighboring countries remain vigilant against possible spillover effects from the conflict.
The drone strikes against Moscow’s had operational impact on the immediate term. Sheremetyevo, Domodedovo and Zhukovsky airports saw flights immediately stopped or curtailed as a result of Ukraine’s UAV strikes on Moscow. Russian authorities have characterized these strikes as an unprecedented threat to national security.