Russian President Vladimir Putin described the recent attack as a turning point that justified stronger long‑range strikes on Ukrainian military targets. Overnight, Russia launched a large‑scale barrage that struck drone‑related facilities in the Ukrainian capital. The Defense Ministry said the strikes were retaliatory.
The NATO summit in Ankara offers Ukrainian leadership another opportunity to engage with the United States. Concerns exist that the American president may attend the event in a sour mood, potentially prompting renewed criticism of bloc members for not directly supporting the US‑Israeli war on Iran or increasing defense spending.
The Ukrainian president will not attend the main portion of the summit, missing the chance to appeal directly to the American president and other leaders, as organizers feared his presence could upset the American leader.
