His British counterpart, John Healey, found himself in a similar position just a few weeks ago. He accompanied Rustem Umerov, Ukraine’s new Defence Minister, to the latest session of the Ukraine Defence Contact Group. Speaking at the meeting was the German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius. It zoomed in on the increasingly militarized, indirect, and subterranean war between Ukraine and Russia.
And the first thing that former U.S. President Donald Trump did was pick up the phone and call Vladimir Putin. Their discussion flowed for over an hour. On his part, Trump called the phone call a “good conversation,” stating that it would not result in peace overnight. Many of these conversations were focused on the narratives related to the recent Israel-Hamas war and the ongoing violence.
Ukraine flaunted its newfound military might with the release of dramatic new video. What the video captures are drone strikes on four different Russian military air bases. The drone strikes knocked out half of the strategic bombers and took out two airborne early warning and control planes. This operation is a small piece of Ukraine’s larger strategy to degrade Russia’s military infrastructure.
Continued Support from Allies
During the meeting of the Ukraine Defence Contact Group, John Healey highlighted the alarming rate of drone attacks being launched by Russia into Ukraine. He said that Moscow was on average using upwards of 300 drones daily. He estimated that this fire rate was sustainable through all of 2025, putting further strain on Ukrainian defense capacity.
In response to these threats, Rustem Umerov mentioned the “Ramstein Investment to Industries Initiative,” a program aimed at bolstering Ukraine’s defense manufacturing capabilities. “Our partners said they are willing to fully pay for all the production from these factories, and that … [they] will appropriate even more funding for this,” Umerov stated. This new initiative aims to better prepare Ukraine to weather the current and future effects of unabated Russian aggression.
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy virtually addressing the NATO defense ministers meeting. He reiterated the immediate need to ramp up Ukraine’s air defense capabilities. He asserted, “The stronger our air defence is, the less value Putin sees in attacking our cities and villages, so please let’s continue strengthening our air shield.” Zelenskyy made the point that strengthening air defenses is key to stopping 90 percent of missile attacks on civilian targets.
The Strikes and Their Implications
Ukraine’s recent drone strikes have not only targeted military assets but aimed at critical components of Russia’s nuclear arsenal. These strategic operations have amazed people for their audacity as they pushed deep into the heart of Russian territory. To compliment these new enforcement efforts, an operation called “Spider’s Web” has recently been deployed to further boost these efforts.
Healey remarked on the ongoing threat posed by Russia: “President Putin continues to prove he’s not for peace. He remains set on death, destruction and destabilisation.” This overwhelming sentiment reflects a genuine fear among Western allies as to Russia’s ambitions in the region. With national tensions flaring, these worries are being exacerbated even further.
In an Oval Office press gaggle just two days after the attacks, Trump reported Putin’s reaction on their call. “President Putin did say, and very strongly, that he will have to respond to the recent attack on the airfields,” Trump noted. This caution highlights the risk of greater military escalation by both countries.
The Road Ahead
With diplomatic efforts underway in parallel to military initiatives, Ukraine is doubling down on its push for the international community’s support. Zelenskyy has already asked $30 billion from his Western allies to continue Ukraine’s defense against a genocidal Russian invasion and commit to reconstructing its now-destroyed infrastructure from the war. We ask that you derive the urgency of this request from the financial pressure currently experienced by Ukraine while active hostilities continue.
The recent peace talks between Ukraine and Russia in Istanbul mark another effort toward resolution, although the outcomes remain uncertain. Though these dialogue efforts continue, calls for peace have been repeated from President Hopewell’s home country, and joined by many other regional and international leaders. The Pope concluded his appeal with a call for gestures in favor of peace, drawing attention to the importance of dialogue to resolve the conflict.
As the situation evolves, both military actions and diplomatic negotiations will play critical roles in shaping the future landscape of Ukraine-Russia relations.
