Lloyd Austin discussed strategy in the ongoing war with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and pledged $400 million in new military assistance; Austin held off on the permission for Ukraine to use U.S.-provided long-range weapons inside Russia that Kyiv has been after (WSJ)
U.S. Announces New Aid to Ukraine
U.S. President Joe Biden announced the new $425 million military aid package during a phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy yesterday, according to a White House statement; it followed Zelenskyy’s unveiling of his five-point victory plan to Ukraine’s parliament, in which Western allies are a linchpin in ending the war (White House)
Zelenzkyy’s ‘Victory Plan’ Presented to Ukrainian Lawmakers
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy unveiled his highly anticipated five-point plan today on how to end Russia’s war by as early as next year; at the top of the list was a call for an invitation to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), which the country submitted an application for in 2022 (Kyiv Independent)
Zelenskyy emphasized that the plan’s implementation “depends on [Ukraine’s] partners” (Politico)
While parts of the blueprint remain confidential, Zelenskyy outlined four other main objectives: gaining permission to use long-range weapons on Russian territory; containing Russia through non-nuclear deterrence; implementing joint United States and European Union (EU) protections of Ukraine’s natural and critical resources; and stationing U.S. and Ukrainian troops across Europe in the post-war period (BBC)
A Kremlin spokesperson dismissed Ukraine’s planned path to victory, saying that Kyiv needed to “sober up” (WaPo)
Separately, Russia launched a mass overnight wave of drones targeting Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities in what is the largest such attack in recent months (Reuters)
North Korea Is Sending Troops to Russia, Says Zelenskyy
In a national address, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy asserted that North Korea’s and Russia’s military relationship is growing beyond the “transfer of weapons” to the “transfer of people” (Reuters)
While he did not specify details, South Korean and Ukrainian officials raised concern over North Korean-Russian military training and cooperation last week; a Kremlin spokesperson dismissed the reports as “fake” (WaPo)
Denmark Working to Enhance Ukrainian Weapon Production
Denmark’s Defense Minister is advocating for increasing Ukraine’s access to weapons through a joint fund that “combines investments from the state and others”; Denmark claims that strengthening Ukraine’s domestic weapon production is cheaper, faster, and easier to maintain than relying on European and U.S. weapon importation (Bloomberg)
Meanwhile, Washington aims to participate in a new Group of Seven (G7) loan upwards of $50 billion to Ukraine even if European Union sanctions on Russian assets in the bloc are not extended, unnamed U.S. and EU officials told the Financial Times; Washington had originally made its participation contingent on the extension of the sanctions regime (FT)
Ukraine’s Zelenskyy Meets With European Leaders
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is meeting today with the leaders of the United Kingdom (UK) and North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) in London and then is heading on to France and Italy to discuss the ongoing war; the meetings come after President Biden canceled a planned trip to Europe due to Hurricane Milton (BBC)
European Union (EU) countries yesterday backed a new $45 billion loan to Ukraine, though U.S. participation in the loan was reportedly thrown into doubt when Hungary and Slovakia said they would not support the extension of an EU sanctions regime against Russia (FT)
North Korean Weapons and Troops Reportedly Deployed in Ukraine
Ukraine alleged that North Korean weapons were destroyed in a drone attack on a Russian weapons depot in the Bryansk border region (Al Jazeera)
In a separate statement earlier this week, South Korea’s Defense Minister claimed that it was “highly likely” that six North Korean officers were killed in combat by Ukraine near Donetsk (Al Jazeera)
UK Follows U.S. in Sanctioning Russian Forces for Chemical Weapons Use
Russian troops and defense ministry scientific centersused chemical weapons, including the toxic choking agent chloropicrin, on the battlefield in Ukraine, London said in announcing its sanctions (Bloomberg)
Chloropicrin is banned under an international treaty known as the Chemical Weapons Convention; the move mimics a similar action by the United States in May (BBC)
Ukraine, Slovakia Clash Over Russian Gas, NATO Membership
Ukraine reiterated a pledge to end permission for Russian gas to pass through its borders toward Slovakia, set to expire this year (Euractiv)
On Sunday, Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico said he would oppose Ukraine’s aspirations to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) as long as he is in office; his term ends in 2027 (Politico)
Fico has, however, expressed support for Ukraine’s membership in the European Union (Kyiv Post)
Meanwhile, U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris said she would not negotiate bilaterally with Russia about ending the war in Ukraine without the participation of Kyiv; Harris did not immediately answer a question about whether she would support NATO expansion, saying it was an issue to be dealt with “if and when it arrives at that point” (CBS)
She suggested former President Donald Trump’s previous pledge to quickly end the war meant to “surrender” (FT)
Ukrainian Military Car Bomb Kills Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Security Worker
The Ukrainian military carried out a car bombing against a Ukrainian nuclear security worker, labeling him an alleged “war criminal and collaborator” (Reuters)
Separately, Russia targeted critical infrastructure in Kyiv overnight using nineteen drones, according to the Ukrainian Air Force; the attack damaged an apartment building, but no civilian deaths have been reported (VOA)
Russia Captures Strategic Ukrainian Town of Vuhledar
Ukraine’s eastern military command said it ordered a pullback from the town, which came under Russian control today; Vuhledar is at the intersection of Ukraine’s eastern and southern battle areas (Reuters)
Separately, Ukraine said yesterday that it is investigating Russia’s alleged shooting of sixteen prisoners of war (Reuters)
Rutte Pledges Support for Ukraine in Start to Tenure as NATO Boss
Former Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte became Secretary-General of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) today, calling for the group to ensure that “Ukraine prevails as a sovereign, independent, democratic nation” (Reuters)
His tenure begins as Kyiv reshuffles its senior defense officials; Ukraine’s defense minister said today it was dismissing three deputies (Reuters)
Ukraine’s Zelenskyy Talks War Status In Separate Meetings With Harris, Trump
Former President Donald Trump said he will meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy today (CNN)
Yesterday, Trump said he believed he would be able to “make a deal” between Zelenskyy and Russian President Vladimir Putin “quite quickly” if he were elected president (Politico)
Vice President Kamala Harris also met with Zelenskyy yesterday and said that any potential proposals that would require Ukraine to give up large parts of its sovereign territory, accept neutrality, and forego security relationships with other nations are not proposals for peace, but for “dangerous and unacceptable” surrender (CNN)
Biden Announces $8 Billion for Ukraine
The new U.S. military aid to help Kyiv “win this war” will include shipments of a precision-guided glide bomb for the first time, though U.S. President Joe Biden stopped short of allowing Ukraine to use U.S. missiles to strike deep inside Russia (Reuters)
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will have separate meetings with Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris at the White House today (AP)
Meanwhile, President Vladimir Putin came out with changes in Russia’s nuclear doctrine today, saying Russia will consider any nation’s conventional attack that is supported by a nuclear power as a joint attack on Russia (AP)
UN Security Council Holds Meeting on Ukraine
At a special session of the UN Security Council, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told the council that the war “can’t be calmed by talks” and that Russia can only be “forced into peace” (AP)
World leaders are gathered in New York for the UN General Assembly, where Joe Biden gave his final address as U.S. president, stating that “we’re in another inflection point in world history” and celebrating Ukraine’s resistance to Russia’s invasion (NYT)
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy Arrives in United States for Week of Events
Zelenskyy will present his plan for victory in the war against Russia to Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, and former President Donald Trump; today, he visited a Pennsylvania factory that produces munitions for Ukraine (BBC).
EU Announces $39 Billion Loan for Ukraine
European Commissioner Ursula von der Leyen went public with the plan on a visit to Kyiv today to counter Russia’s “relentless” attacks; this fund is part of an arrangement in which Group of Seven (G7) countries will raise money using the proceeds of seized Russian assets (DW)
IEA Warns Winter Will Strain Ukraine’s Energy Grid
After Russian attacks, Ukraine’s energy shortfall this coming winter could be as much as six gigawatts, or almost a third of expected peak demand, the International Energy Agency (IEA) said (CNN)
European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen said she would discuss support for Ukraine’s energy grid on a trip to Kyiv tomorrow (AFP)
Russian President Vladimir Putin Orders Third Increase in Size of Russia’s Army Since Invasion of Ukraine
Putin said the Russian army should have 1.5 million active troops starting in December (CNN)
Russia and Ukraine Swap Total of 206 Prisoners in Agreement Brokered by United Arab Emirates
Moscow said among their released prisoners were Russian fighters who had been captured in the Ukrainian operation in Kursk (BBC)
U.S., UK Pledge Nearly $1.5 Billion in New Support for Ukraine
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and United Kingdom (UK) Foreign Secretary David Lammy announced the aid on a joint visit to Kyiv yesterday; the new support includes funding for repairing and restoring Ukraine’s energy grid as well as bolstering humanitarian and refugee support programs (AP)
No announcement was made on the trip about a change in permission for Ukraine to use U.S.-provided weapons to strike deep inside Russia, which Kyiv had been seeking (WaPo)
Blinken said U.S. President Joe Biden and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer would discuss “what [Ukraine] needs to succeed” in Washington on Friday when Starmer visits the White House (Politico)
Last week, U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said he did not believe “one capability is going to be decisive” in the war (AP)
Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin said yesterday that Moscow should consider restricting nickel, titanium, and uranium exports in response to Western sanctions (Reuters)
U.S. Secretary of State Blinken and UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy Visit Kyiv
Blinken and Lammy will discuss Ukrainian requests to use long-range missiles from their countries to hit targets inside Russia; Blinken said he would hear Ukraine’s “objectives and what we can do to support those needs” (BBC)
Moscow said it would respond “appropriately” if Washington allowed such missile strike capabilities (Al Jazeera)
Washington Accuses Iran of Sending Russia Ballistic Missiles to Use in Ukraine
The Kremlin has received shipments of short-range ballistic missiles from Tehran, and Washington will respond by moving to punish those involved, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said today (AP)
The U.S. assessment comes as Ukraine continues its summer strategy of carrying out strikes within Russian territory; Iran this week denied having sent weapons to Russia (WaPo)
Blinken spoke at a joint press event in London with British Foreign Secretary David Lammy; the two will visit Ukraine tomorrow (State)
Russia said that it destroyed more than 140 Ukrainian drones overnight that flew over several regions including Moscow; it was one of the largest Ukrainian attacks on Russian soil since the start of the war more than two years ago (AP)
A woman died in an apartment building outside Moscow, while three of the city’s international airports shuttered operations and diverted flights to other destinations for several hours (Reuters)
Russian strikes have killed more than ten thousand civilians in Ukraine since the war began, according to the United Nations (UN)
Zelenskyy Meets Senior Western Officials in Germany
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy briefed Western military officials today, including U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, who announced a new $250 million defense assistance package; Zelenskyy called for donations of long-range weapons for Ukraine to strike deeper within Russia’s borders, something Washington has opposed (RFE/RL, AP, AFP, Reuters)
He is scheduled to meet with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz later today (Time)
Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Resigns in Largest Government Reshuffle Since War Broke Out
Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba was among the some half a dozen senior Ukrainian officials who submitted their resignations in the largest cabinet shake-up since Russia invaded more than two years ago; President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the wave of resignations aims to “give new strength” to Ukraine’s institutions and that this autumn will be an “extremely important” period for the country (FT)
Another swath of cabinet members could still resign later today, the New York Times reported, but experts do not expect the personnel changes to lead to major policy shifts (NYT)
Zelenskyy has said he will present a “victory plan” during an upcoming visit to the United States (WaPo)
A list of replacement ministers could be presented as soon as tomorrow (BBC)
The governance shake-up comes as Ukraine holds on to a portion of Russia’s Kursk region and as Russia continues a week of heavy aerial attacks; Russian strikes in the city of Poltava killed at least fifty-two people yesterday, while overnight strikes on the western city of Lviv killed at least seven (AP)
Meanwhile, the Kremlin said today that it was adjusting its nuclear doctrine over U.S. and Western actions to support Ukraine during the war (Reuters)