Ukraine is seeking to intensify its military and political pressure on Moscow, while simultaneously trying to influence the inner circle around Russian President Vladimir Putin. In his evening address on the 1598th day of the full-scale war, Ukrainian head of state Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that his country had presented concrete proposals on how to move closer to a peace solution.
"We have laid out proposals on how to move closer to peace, and we have support not only among our partners but also within the inner circle of Russian President Vladimir Putin. They understand what is happening and that there is no alternative to peace," emphasized Zelenskyy.
In the same address, he announced that he had signed a decree establishing a special command within the Armed Forces of Ukraine, which will be responsible for long-range strikes on Russian territory. The new structure aims to concentrate the planning and leadership of these operations to increase pressure on Russian positions and improve efficiency along the entire front line.
Leading the new command is General Dmytro Voloshyn, who has served as commander of the 8th Air Assault Corps. With this appointment, Kyiv demonstrates an intention to utilize the experience of airborne and assault units in managing long-range strikes.
Since the spring, Ukraine has significantly intensified attacks on targets deep in the Russian rear and in occupied territories, including Crimea. A state of emergency was declared on the peninsula due to an acute fuel crisis and severe damage to energy infrastructure following a series of strikes on substations.
In response to the crisis, the Russian "Red Cross" announced that it is organizing the distribution of humanitarian aid to vulnerable residents of Crimea affected by restrictions and supply disruptions.
Ukraine has also begun attacking tankers attempting to break the blockade and deliver fuel to the peninsula. According to data from Kyiv, 48 vessels have been struck in the last 120 hours alone, with the majority of them being tankers linked to Russia's shadow fleet.
Ukrainian actions are receiving support from the United States. During the NATO meeting in Ankara, U.S. President Donald Trump described these strikes as an escalation, but one that he believes "is leading to the end of the war."
In parallel, the U.S. Senate announced that an agreement has been reached with the White House to increase pressure on Russia through secondary sanctions. The initiative, led by Republican Lindsey Graham and Democrat Richard Blumenthal, is supported by other representatives from both parties and has been under discussion for more than a year.
Bloomberg agency recalls that the final text has not yet been published, and it is unclear whether there are changes compared to the initial ideas. Earlier proposals included tariffs of up to 500% for countries that continue to trade with Russia.
The senators' statement indicates that Moscow is intensifying strikes on the civilian population of Ukraine and that their initiative aims to create a tool to "ensure a heavy price" for those who buy Russian oil and thereby finance these attacks.
Senator Lindsey Graham met with Zelenskyy earlier today. Released protocol footage makes it clear that the two are prepared to discuss "good news." The Ukrainian president focused on the topic of the license for "Patriot" missiles.
Zelenskyy recalled that an agreement has already been reached at the political level and that talks are upcoming at the technical level to clarify the specific parameters and details regarding the implementation of this commitment.