Russia conducted drone attacks on Ukraine overnight, intensifying its full-scale invasion as the conflict reached its 1,000th day. In the northeastern region of Sumy, a Russian drone strike claimed the lives of six people, including a child, and left 12 others injured, according to regional officials.
Meanwhile, G20 leaders meeting in Brazil have released a final statement addressing the ongoing conflict. While acknowledging the "human suffering" caused by the war, the statement notably refrains from naming Russia as the aggressor.
The EU's top diplomat, Josep Borrell, has urged member states to follow the United States in allowing Ukraine to use donated long-range missiles to strike targets inside Russia. Calling the US policy shift "very good news" for Ukraine, Borrell said, "I hope that all member states will follow the US decision... to allow the Ukrainians to use their arms to fight against the Russians inside Russian territory."
The US decision has drawn attention to allies supplying Ukraine with long-range missiles, such as Britain's and France's Storm Shadow and SCALP missiles. French President Emmanuel Macron praised the move as "a good one," while German Chancellor Olaf Scholz reiterated his opposition to sending Taurus missiles, citing concerns over escalating Germany's role in the war.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has approved an updated nuclear doctrine, expanding the conditions for nuclear weapon use. According to a document on the government’s website, the doctrine now considers any conventional attack on Russia backed by a nuclear power as a potential joint attack on the country.
The changes, ordered by Putin in September, follow the US decision to allow Ukraine to target Russian territory with ATACMS missiles. The US, EU, and Ukraine have condemned the updated doctrine as "irresponsible."
Marking 1,000 days since Russia's full-scale invasion began on February 24, 2022, Kyiv reaffirmed its commitment to resist.
"Ukraine will never submit to the occupiers, and the Russian military will be punished for violating international law," the Foreign Ministry said.
The conflict has resulted in tens of thousands of Ukrainian deaths, including civilians, and displaced millions both internally and abroad.
Allies of US President-elect Donald Trump have criticized President Joe Biden's decision to allow Ukraine to use US-supplied long-range missiles against Russia, accusing him of escalating the conflict.
"It's another step up the escalation ladder and nobody knows where this is going," said Mike Waltz, Trump's pick for national security adviser.
Donald Trump Jr. echoed this sentiment on X, writing, "The Military Industrial Complex seems to want to make sure they get World War 3 going before my father has a chance to create peace and save lives."
The criticism aligns with comments from Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, who accused Biden of seeking to "provoke a further escalation of tensions."
While Trump has promised to end the war swiftly, critics express concern over potential concessions to Russia. He has not commented on Biden's latest decision.
Iran's Foreign Ministry has dismissed new EU and British sanctions over Tehran's alleged support for Russia's invasion of Ukraine as unjustified.
"While the president of Ukraine has admitted that no Iranian ballistic missiles have been exported to Russia, the measures... cannot be justified," said ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei.
He accused European parties of violating international law through sanctions affecting Iran's shipping and airlines, imposed Monday.
Iran continues to deny Western claims that it has supplied missiles or drones to Russia for use in Ukraine.
G20 leaders in Brazil issued a final statement calling for peace in Ukraine but avoided naming Russia as the aggressor.
The statement highlighted "the human suffering and negative added impacts of the war with regard to global food and energy security, supply chains, macro-financial stability, inflation and growth." It also welcomed "all relevant and constructive initiatives that support a comprehensive, just, and durable peace" in line with the UN Charter.
The wording reflects Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva's stance of nonalignment, with Lula suggesting since taking office that Russia, NATO, and Ukraine share responsibility for the conflict.
Russia claims over 900,000 Ukrainian troops have been killed or injured since its invasion began 1,000 days ago, according to the Ministry of Defense and TASS. However, this figure cannot be independently verified, and neither Russia nor Ukraine has disclosed precise casualty numbers.
Western estimates suggest Ukrainian casualties are significantly lower than Russian ones. The New York Times reported 57,000 Ukrainian soldiers killed, about half the number attributed to Russia.
NATO estimates Russian losses at over 600,000 dead or wounded, while Ukraine claims more than 722,000 Russian soldiers have been killed or injured since February 2022.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reported that a Russian drone attack in the northeastern town of Hlukhiv killed seven people, including a child.
"Every new Russian strike only confirms (Russian President Vladimir) Putin's true intentions. He wants the war to continue, he is not interested in talking about peace," Zelenskyy said.
The Sumy regional administration said the attack, which hit a residential dormitory, also injured 12 people. The Sumy region, bordering Russia, has faced repeated strikes, including a missile attack over the weekend that killed 12, including two children.
(Source: DW)
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