Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin threatened retaliation as he did last week against the possible provision of US Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine. He thinks such a step would mean a “whole new level of escalation.” His frank comments underscore growing concerns about the military situation in Europe. Both Russia and Ukraine are feeling new urgency as the war continues to rage.
Putin argues that Russia is simply watching what he calls the “growing military build-up” of Europe. It is imperative that Moscow respond to these developments in a way that is truly beneficial to our national security,” he said. “We simply cannot ignore what is happening. And we have no right to do that, under the pretext of our own security,” said Putin at a press conference.
Moreover, he mocked Western concerns over a looming Russian invasion of NATO as “hysteria.” Instead, he assured that “Russia’s countermeasures will not be long in coming,” suggesting that any perceived threats would prompt immediate reactions from Moscow.
Yet as we focus on delivering these needs, the reality on the ground continues to be unstable—especially within Ukraine. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has been preemptively warning European leaders that recent drone incursions are just the beginning signals of Russia’s will to intensify its aggression. He remarked that the potential for wider conflict is real, stating, “If the Russians dare to launch drones against Poland, or violate the airspace of northern European countries, it means this can happen anywhere.”
In the backdrop of these geopolitical tensions, emergency crews in Ukraine have been working tirelessly to restore power to regions affected by Russian attacks. In addition, more than 300,000 consumers in the Chernihiv region had been in the dark during the worst of it, though repairs are moving quickly. In one border community, all electricity has been restored. These regions were the focus of overnight Russian attacks.
Zelenskyy began with a successful humanitarian effort. In a significant prisoner exchange, 185 Ukrainian military members and 20 civilians made their way back home to Ukraine. This is an important change given that over 7,000 Ukrainians have already returned home since the start of the war.
With tensions rising, the United States is preparing to release intelligence information to Ukraine. This new information will zero in on long-range energy infrastructure nodes far inside the Russian heartland. Real logistical challenges may deride the Trump administration’s hope to provide Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine. Right now, current inventories are encumbered by other obligations.
The conflict continues to escalate. Maxim Kruglov, Deputy Leader of the Russian Yabloko party – a member of the opposition movement liberal – was charged for allegedly discrediting the Russian army. The Kremlin’s re-prioritization of internal dissent highlights its ongoing strategy as the Kremlin tries to operate under the weight of outside pressure.