Latest Developments: Military Aid for Ukraine
Meeting in Odessa, Ukraine - Intense Battles on the Battlefront
Southeast European nations vowed additional military assistance for Ukraine at the Ukraine-Southeast Europe Summit in the port city of Odessa on June 2025[2]. Unspecified defense packages from various countries were confirmed by Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrij Sybiha[2]. President Volodymyr Zelensky pressed for increased armament as Russia allegedly has broader annexation plans than officially disclosed.
In attendance were over a dozen heads of state and government, who gathered to discuss regional problems and coordinate aid for Ukraine. Zelensky urged stronger air defenses, political backing, and support for Ukraine's EU membership aspiration. The summit also marked Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic's first visit to Ukraine since the war's onset[4].
Zelensky on Kremlin's Strategic Objectives
Addressing the summit, Zelensky asserted that Russia's expansionist goals weren't limited solely to Ukraine's south and east. He stated that the Kremlin has strategic objectives for Odessa and a corridor towards Romania and Moldova[1]. This ambition, Zelensky suggested, originates from a intention to stir up chaos in the region with the ultimate aim of weakening Europe as a whole.
However, Rustam Minnekayev, a high-ranking Russian military official, publicly expounded control of southern Ukraine and the land route to the region of Transnistria — a secessionist province in Moldova — as war goals shortly following the invasion in February 2022[1]. There has been no formal statement from Russian President Vladimir Putin in response to these plans.
Fears of a Domino Effect
Zelensky alleged that Russia's sphere of influence extends beyond Ukraine. He pointed to Russia instigating ethnic conflicts in the Balkans, intruding in Romanian elections, and planning to reassert control over Moldova. In the event of a pro-Russian faction winning the parliamentary election in Moldova in September, Zelensky warned, this could embolden Moscow to meddle increasingly in the internal affairs of other European countries[1].
Serbian President visits Ukraine: A Reciprocal Visit
Serbian President Vucic's attendance at the summit marked his first trip to Ukraine since the war's outbreak[4]. Although he refuses to impose sanctions on Russia, Vucic has claimed western powers are responsible for the conflict[4]. Despite this, he expressed support for Ukraine's territorial integrity[4]. However, Vucic declined to sign the summit's final declaration, citing its inclusion of sanctions against Russia[2].
Historically, relations between Serbia and Russia have been amicable, yet tensions have emerged recently. The Russian foreign intelligence service accused Serbia of supplying ammunition to Ukraine, sparking disagreements between the two nations[4].
Ukraine: Continued Pressure and Escalating Conflict
Among the current challenges facing Ukraine is a dearth of manpower for mobilization and an insufficiency of munitions[1]. Despite these impediments, Russia continues to apply pressure with its numerical and material superiority. The General Staff in Kyiv reported around 200 skirmishes in the past 24 hours[1].
The Donetsk region experienced aggressive Russian activity, particularly around the strategically crucial city of Pokrovsk[1]. Similarly, there were around 30 attacks in the area near Novopavlivka[1]. Ongoing shelling of rear areas persists with relentless intensity. Reports of drone attacks in various Ukrainian regions were filed overnight into Thursday[1].
Anticipated Developments on Thursday
Both warring parties are expected to exchange prisoners again on Thursday. According to reports from Moscow, the exchanged prisoners are likely to be those in serious condition[3].
Diplomats at the Ukraine-Southeast Europe Summit discussed not only military aid for Ukraine but also political backing and support for Ukraine's EU membership aspiration, given the Kremlin's strategic objectives that extend beyond Ukraine's south and east and towards Odessa, Romania, and Moldova. Furthermore, General news and war-and-conflicts coverage has reported that ongoing skirmishes in the Donetsk region and Novopavlivka, as well as drone attacks in various Ukrainian regions, indicate an escalating conflict.
