International attention is focused on several decisions that could affect the further course of the war. Washington has agreed on a new sanctions law against Russia and is declaring political progress on localizing the production of Patriot missiles in Ukraine. At the same time, experts emphasize that the launch of such production will require long-term preparation, despite the political support of the US. According to Reuters, the Kremlin is not abandoning the military scenario and is considering the possibility of further escalation.
The White House has reached a new sanctions agreement against Russia
Republican Senator Lindsey Graham has stated in Kyiv that the White House has supported a new bill on sanctions against Russia. According to him, the document will give the US president the authority to impose duties and sanctions against countries that buy cheap Russian oil and gas, as well as strengthen pressure mechanisms on states that help circumvent restrictions. The bill already has 85 co-authors.
“About 30 minutes ago, we reached an agreement with the White House on a version of the bill on sanctions against Russia that they will support. This means that it will become law,” Graham said.
He also noted that he does not see significant support in the United States for direct military aid to Ukraine, but stressed the importance of selling American weapons to Europe and cooperating with Ukraine on drones: “Europe is ready to buy American weapons, and we need to continue to sell them. We need to cooperate with Ukraine on drones in our own interests.”
After this statement, it became known about the death of Lindsey Graham. According to his office, the senator died as a result of a short and sudden illness. The family asked to respect her privacy during this period.
RAND expert: Patriot missile production in Ukraine will take time
The possible granting of a license to Ukraine to produce Patriot interceptor missiles is an important political signal, but the implementation of such a decision will require long-term preparation. This was stated by military analyst at the American RAND research center Jacob Parakilos, emphasizing that it is necessary to resolve issues of licensing, technology protection, export control and the creation of production facilities.
“This is certainly good news for the defense of Ukraine. But it is important to understand that this will not bring results in the near future,” the expert noted.
According to him, Ukrainian Patriot missiles should not be expected this year, and production in Ukraine will also be complicated by security risks and high workload of American manufacturers, although he does not rule out the possibility of Ukraine creating its own interceptor compatible with the Patriot system.
Putin is set to escalate the war despite US peace initiatives
Russian President Vladimir Putin is not ready for peace talks with Ukraine and is probably preparing for a further escalation of the war. Reuters was told this by three sources close to the Kremlin, who said that the latest Ukrainian attacks on Russian energy infrastructure had only strengthened the Kremlin's intention to continue fighting. According to the agency's interlocutors, Putin also rejected proposals for a compromise based on a ceasefire along the current front line.
The Kremlin said that "Russia is ready for a peaceful settlement" but has enough resources to continue the war. At the same time, the Ukrainian side told Reuters that intelligence data from recent months indicate that the Russian Federation is preparing for new military operations, and Western analysts do not rule out that Moscow may resort to further escalation, including attempts to increase pressure on NATO countries.
Zelensky: Ukraine and the United States have politically agreed on licenses for the production of Patriot missiles
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated, that Ukraine and the United States have reached a political agreement on licenses for the production of missiles for the Patriot systems. According to him, in the coming days, Ukraine also expects a new package of American aid, and after a political decision, technical teams should start working on obtaining the necessary licenses as soon as possible.
“We have resolved this issue politically. Now it is very important that our technical teams, all our representatives from various ministries, representatives of the executive branch start working on this without delay, so that we can very quickly obtain licenses and start production in Ukraine as soon as possible,” Zelensky said.
The President also reported on the progress of negotiations with the United States on cooperation in the field of drones and announced a separate project with European partners to create a new missile defense system.
Congressman McCaul: Patriot production in Ukraine is beneficial for the US defense industry
American defense companies may be interested in producing Patriot interceptor missiles in Ukraine after Donald Trump’s statement about his readiness to provide a corresponding license. This opinion was expressed in a comment to Bloomberg by Congressman Michael McCaul during a visit to Ukraine, where he got acquainted with Ukrainian defense technologies and developments in the field of drones.
“I think it is in their interests for many reasons. If the president wants it done, then it is in their interests to do it,” McCaul said.
He also added: “I think the Ukrainians can build this system faster, and maybe even better. So Lockheed could learn from the Ukrainians on the issue of their own interceptors - how to improve them, how to produce them faster.”
Photo: Reuters
Author: Danylo Pievchev