The Russian armed forces conquered the largest extent of Ukrainian territory since the end of 2022. Over the past seven days, Kremlin soldiers have penetrated beyond Kiev's defense lines to take control of around 278 square kilometers. For its part, Kiev stopped the advance in some areas of the Kharkiv region, in the north-east of the country, where Moscow's offensive is concentrated. It was reported by the Institute for the Study of War (ISW).

"American aid is arriving and European aid will also arrive. But there is a big difference between sending aid and going to fight there: military aid is to allow Ukraine to defend itself; sending our soldiers means waging war against the Russians. We are not at war with Russia, nor do we want to go to war. We only want to defend the independence of Ukraine", reiterated the Italian Foreign Minister, Antonio Tajani.

The North Atlantic Treaty Organization confirms that in Kharkiv "the operational situation on the front remains difficult". "The Russian leadership is acting on the basis of a perceived or imagined existential threat. All to justify their relentless pursuit of power abroad, so as not to lose power at home. And for this, they are willing to sacrifice not only hundreds of thousands of their men, but the well-being of many more millions of people around the world, using food, energy and migration as weapons".

Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin, traveling to China to meet his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping, expressed heartfelt thanks to Beijing for "the efforts made and aimed at resolving the crisis". And he declared to Chinese journalists: to close the Ukrainian crisis "it is necessary to build a reliable security model" capable of reassuring everyone and lasting over time. 

On the same topic, see also the article published by AVIONEWS.