Zelenskyy claims territorial gains as Nordic leaders press Putin to end war
Finnish and Norwegian leaders called Moscow on Tuesday following US diesel deals, while Kyiv allocated funds to repair Dnipro crossings after overnight strikes.
By Ivan Mori ·
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated on Tuesday that his country’s military position is the strongest it has been in some time, citing reports from senior commanders that Ukrainian forces are retaking territory. He disclosed for the first time the existence of the “Veles” operation, which utilizes pipelines in the northeast, and referenced an air assault in the east alongside the “Vivaldi” operation to the north. These maneuvers are designed to prevent Russian advances in key areas.
The diplomatic push from the Nordic region follows a recent shift in US policy. Finnish President Alexander Stubb and Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere phoned Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday to urge him to end the conflict. This direct communication aimed to influence the diplomatic process after US President Donald Trump agreed to buy Russian diesel. That decision stunned allies and caused relations between the United States and Ukraine to fall to their lowest point in 18 months.
Military exchanges continued despite the diplomatic efforts. Russian strikes damaged a university campus and Kyiv’s Southern Bridge overnight. Zelenskyy characterized the attack on the bridge as a serious escalation against Ukrainian logistics. A Ukrainian military source told Reuters that Russia hit the structure with four Iskander ballistic missiles. The president said energy facilities and infrastructure in 10 other regions were also attacked during the night.
In response to the continued targeting of infrastructure, Kyiv plans to allocate 1 billion hryvnias, or $22 million, to build water crossings over the River Dnipro. The capital’s mayor announced the plan as Russia escalates attacks on bridges that divide the city. Meanwhile, a localized ceasefire in the south of Ukraine appears to be holding.
Tensions with neighboring states have also risen. Romanian President Nicusor Dan called an alleged Russian sabotage plot a grave violation of his nation’s sovereignty. The Romanian intelligence service identified a Russia-coordinated network linked to a fire in central Brasov County last month that damaged commercial premises. Three foreign nationals, two Belarusians and one Ukrainian, are under investigation. Romania’s foreign ministry summoned Russia’s ambassador, who rejected the accusations as baseless.
France temporarily relocated a maritime patrol aircraft to Romania to protect critical energy infrastructure in the Black Sea. At least eight cargo ships have been hit near the coasts of Romania and Bulgaria in the past three weeks, leaving about 34 sailors dead or missing. Poland will host the only maintenance center for the US-made Patriot air-defense system outside the United States. This facility will support the logistics hub that supplies Kyiv with interceptor missiles.
Pope Leo XIV’s chief almsgiver, Monsignor Luis Marín de San Martín, began a three-day visit to Ukraine on Tuesday. He is bringing trucks of winter clothes, blankets, and food to Kyiv for distribution. He plans to visit the capital, Zaporizhzhia, Dnipro, and Fastiv. The Pope had previously called for a ceasefire and the safe evacuation of people in Oleshky during phone calls with Putin and Zelenskyy.
