Today, there was a detailed report by Ukraine’s Minister of Defense, Rustem Umerov — particularly regarding support packages from our partners. Some new good agreements have been reached. There is also an understanding that a new meeting in the “Ramstein” format should take place as early as April — with Germany and the United Kingdom currently leading the format. We are working on its substantive content.
I have instructed the Minister of Defence to present to our American partners all the facts regarding damage to our energy infrastructure caused by Russian attacks. Just in the past 24 hours, there was a targeted Russian drone strike on gas infrastructure in the Poltava region. There was also an artillery strike on Kherson, which damaged the city’s power infrastructure. Yesterday, one of Russia’s attacks on Kharkiv damaged the city’s heating supply infrastructure.
All of this shows that Russia will continue to sabotage diplomacy, and that Moscow’s only tactic remains dragging out the war. Putin may say things that sound like he agrees with the American side, but in reality, the Russian army keeps pushing forward with all available military means. Therefore, pressure on Russia is needed for diplomacy to work.
This report highlights Ukraine’s ongoing efforts to strengthen its defense and engage international partners for support, particularly in the context of continuing Russian aggression. Here are the key points:
1. **Support Packages and the “Ramstein” Format**:
– Ukraine has made progress in securing support packages from its partners, and there’s an expectation for a new meeting in the “Ramstein” format by April. This format, involving key Western allies like Germany and the United Kingdom, focuses on military cooperation and aid to Ukraine. The substantive content of this upcoming meeting will likely address further defense needs, including weapons and military equipment.
2. **Russian Attacks on Energy Infrastructure**:
– Ukraine’s Minister of Defense, Rustem Umerov, has detailed recent Russian strikes targeting critical infrastructure. In the past 24 hours alone, Russian drone attacks hit gas infrastructure in Poltava, artillery strikes damaged power infrastructure in Kherson, and attacks on Kharkiv affected heating supplies. These attacks reflect Russia’s strategy of undermining Ukraine’s essential services and infrastructure.
3. **Russia’s War Strategy**:
– The report underscores the ongoing nature of Russian aggression, emphasizing that while Russian officials may engage in diplomatic dialogue, their actions on the ground, such as the continued military strikes, demonstrate that they are committed to prolonging the war. This highlights the need for sustained pressure on Russia to push for meaningful diplomatic solutions.
The situation indicates that Ukraine, with support from its international allies, continues to prepare for a prolonged conflict while calling for greater diplomatic and military pressure on Russia to force a change in their strategy and behavior.
