There’s no good way to sugarcoat setbacks. On the second anniversary of Vladimir Putin’s full-scale invasion, Ukraine conceded that its summer counter-offensive had stalled and that in pulling back from Avdiivka, its forces were both outmanned and outgunned.
With US military aid seemingly stuck until November’s elections and beyond, nearly two dozen European leaders met in Paris this Monday to try to cement a plan to pick up the slack. That has now begun… but at what pace? A solid majority of Europeans still support Kyiv, but increasingly question its chances of winning.
And what’s next for Russia? As early voting in occupied parts of Ukraine begins for next month’s election, Moscow has momentum… but does that mean victory for a country that has gone all-in for a wartime economy?
Produced by Charles Wente, Rebecca Gnignati and Imen Mellaz.
