This week, fighting continued to rage all along the front lines. Russia continued to strike Ukrainian cities and towns deep in the rear with missiles and drones. Russia began to install a 90 kilogram combined effect warhead on Shahed drones, Ukraine’s Defense Express said. A Russian drone attack on Sumy overnight on Wednesday damaged industrial facilities, and disrupted power and water supply to several neighborhoods. Russia is massing troops along the border with Kharkiv region, likely preparing for a new offensive, Ukrainian military officials warn. Russian leader Vladimir Putin is confident he can break through Ukraine’s defenses by the end of the year to take full control of four regions claimed by Russia, according to Bloomberg News.
U.S. President Donald Trump indicated on Monday following his call with Putin that the U.S. was not ready to join European sanctions efforts. The Kremlin’s actions and demands make meaningful Ukraine-Russia talks impossible, the Institute for the Study of War said in a report. On a call Monday, Trump told European leaders that Putin isn’t ready to end the war in Ukraine because he thinks he is winning, the Wall Street Journal reported.
The EU on Tuesday approved a 17th round of sanctions against Russia and the UK imposed new measures in lockstep. EU countries have agreed on proposals for a 150 billion euro fund aimed at boosting Europe’s defense and Ukraine assistance. Ukraine will ask the EU to step up measures against Russia without waiting for the U.S. to move first, Reuters said on Wednesday.
G7 agrees to continue freezing Russia’s financial assets until Russia ends war, pays for damage it has caused.
In a communiqué issued Thursday, the Group of Seven finance ministers and central bank governors, meeting in Canada, restated that Russia’s sovereign assets in their jurisdictions will remain immobilized until Russia ends its aggression and pays for the damage it has caused to Ukraine.
There were several points on Ukraine in the communiqué. The G7 nations condemned “Russia’s continued brutal war against Ukraine” and welcomed “ongoing efforts to achieve a ceasefire.” The statement also said that “no countries or entities” that supported Russia’s war efforts would be able to profit from the country’s reconstruction.
U.S. President Donald Trump will attend the G7 leaders’ summit in Canada next month, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed in a briefing Thursday. This year’s Group of Seven summit will be held from June 15 to 17 in Kananaskis, Alberta, Canada.