Last week, the NATO alliance reported that discussions between the alliance and Ukraine are scheduled for the coming Wednesday at the request of Kyiv. The focus of the talks centers on the recent wave of Russian bombardments and the broader implications for regional security. The meeting aims to review the current security situation and coordinate support for Ukraine as it responds to intensified attacks from Moscow.
According to a statement released on the official NATO X account, the NATO-Ukraine Council will convene at ambassadorial level. The format emphasizes strategic diplomacy and timely policy coordination as Kyiv seeks to sustain international backing for its defense needs.
On social media, a NATO spokesperson conveyed that the forthcoming gathering will be held at the embassy level on Wednesday, January 10, at Ukraine’s request following several rounds of Russian missile and drone strikes. The post underscored the alliance’s commitment to a steady, united response to ongoing threats.
— Dylan White, NATO press, January 4, 2024 —
In reporting from the week before, several Ukrainian cities were affected by a major Russian bombardment campaign. The attacks touched Kyiv, Lviv, Khmelnytskyi, Cherkasy, Sumy, Dnipro, Kharkiv, Odesa, and Zaporizhzhia, with Kyiv officials describing them as among the most extensive assaults since the conflict began in February 2022.
In a video address released yesterday, President Volodymyr Zelensky reflected that the bombardment has persisted, noting a large volume of missiles in circulation, and urged Western partners to accelerate arms deliveries to reinforce Ukraine’s defenses amid ongoing assaults.
Russian officials later reported that Ukrainian forces conducted strikes along the Belgorod and Kursk border regions in recent days, highlighting the ongoing cross-border security strains in the region.