Although Ukrainian officials have reported an escalation of Russian bombing in the region already – including last week’s bombing of the Kramatorsk train station that killed more than 50 civilians – a senior Pentagon official said “the US does not believe a new one has been launched.” “While fighting is taking place, they are working to increase their capabilities and add to them,” the official said. Oleksandr Motuzyanyk, a spokesman for Ukraine’s Defense Ministry, said his government believed Russia had almost completed preparations for a new offensive in the south and east. “We anticipate that active hostilities will begin in these areas in the near future,” Motuzyanyk added. “The enemy has almost completed the preparations for offensive operations.” The change in Russian tactics, which included naming a new military commander for the Ukrainian invasion, coincided with renewed efforts to supply Ukrainian forces, even as some EU leaders sought to mediate a diplomatic end to the conflict. Austrian Chancellor Carl Nehammer traveled to Moscow on Monday for the European leader’s first visit to the Kremlin since the invasion began six weeks ago. Nehammer said he had a “direct, open and tough” 75-minute conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Nehamer said he had not been given any indication that Putin was retreating from the Russian invasion of Ukraine, adding that he had “no positive impression” of Putin during the meeting. Despite concerns about Nehammer’s visit to several EU capitals, Ukrainian officials are becoming increasingly optimistic about the financial and military support they have received, which has included visits to Kyiv in recent days by President Ursula von der Leyen. of the European Commission, and Boris Johnson. , Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. Slovak Prime Minister Eduard Heger suggested on Monday that supplying Ukraine with Russian-made MiG-29 fighter jets, which are still in the arsenals of many NATO members from Eastern Europe, was back on the table. Speaking at a news conference with his Belgian counterpart, Heger said the talks were triggered by “how Russia behaved”. Mykhailo Podolyak, an adviser to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, said Western determination seemed to have been strengthened following reports of mass killings, executions, torture and rape of civilians in Bucha and other areas from which Russian forces had withdrawn.

However, the Ukrainian government remains concerned that Russia could resume an attack on Kyiv if it succeeds in launching a new offensive in Donbas and other southern and eastern regions. “The question of a possible recurrence of the enemy attack on the capital will depend on the battles that will take place in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions,” Motuzyanik said. Nehamer said he made it clear to Putin that the EU remains united in maintaining and stepping up sanctions until the Russian president reverses his course in Ukraine. Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said Russian troops withdrawing from Kyiv were heading from Belarus to Russia to rebel in areas such as Belgorod and Valuki near the Ukrainian border – where U.S. military officials believe battle. “We have seen some early indications that the Russians are actually trying to resupply and intensify their efforts in Donbas,” Kirby said on Monday. The U.S. is monitoring a convoy of Russian vehicles heading south to Izium to prepare for new battles, he added. “We believe that these are the first stages of a Russian-backed effort in Donbas,” he said. Video: The battle of the radio waves of Ukraine

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