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European Union defense ministers have publicly called on unnamed western allies to deliver on promised weapons systems to support Ukraine’s war efforts against Russia.

What’s the deal: During a summit in Brussels, EU defense ministers repeated calls for Ukraine’s allies to quickly deliver promised weapons systems, crucial for Ukraine’s fight against Russia. Estonian Defense Minister Hanno Pevkur noted that a lack of sufficient weaponry is holding back Ukraine’s progress in recent incursions into Russian territory, likening it to fighting with one hand tied “behind its back.”  

New pressure: In addition to calling on Western allies to fulfill their commitments, Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba along with EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell, called on “Long-term peace in Europe depends on bold short-term decisions to support Ukraine, such as long-range strikes, air defense, and timely military aid. We discussed how to jointly advance them. Ukraine’s successes in Kursk demonstrate that it is capable of regaining the initiative and prevailing on the battlefield. We need more bold decisions to capitalize on this momentum.”

Ukraine’s Kursk offensive: Ukraine’s ongoing offensive Kursk has reportedly led to the capture of 500 square miles (320,000 acres) of Russian territory. They have also captured 100 settlements, sustained significant casualties, and taken 594 prisoners of war. According to Ukrainian mil bloggers, Ukrainian forces are creating trenches in the region, indicating that they plan to hold the territory for the time being.

New Russian territory gains: Despite Ukraine’s ongoing incursion in Kursk, Russian forces have advanced near Pokrovsk, intensifying their efforts to secure a strategic foothold in Donetsk Oblast. Their progress along the Novohrodivka-Hrodivka and Selydove-Ukrainsk-Hirnyk lines has brought them closer to Pokrovsk’s outskirts. This push is part of a broader strategy to encircle the city and neutralize Ukrainian defenses, setting the stage for a potential large-scale assault on Pokrovsk.