Prelude to the Russian invasion of Ukraine

Russian President Vladimir Putin stated today that Ukraine should conduct presidential elections following the conclusion of President Volodymyr Zelensky's five-year term, according to Reuters. However, elections are not planned due to an earlier decision, deemed appropriate by Zelensky and his allies given the wartime circumstances.

Hungary has vetoed the allocation of 6.9 billion euros in military aid to Ukraine, causing concern within the European Union, as reported by the EU's high representative for foreign policy and security, Josep Borrell.

Belgium on Tuesday committed to delivering 30 F-16 fighter jets by 2028 to help Kiev battle Russia's invasion, at the start of a visit by Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky.

Poland's Foreign Minister, Radoslaw Sikorski, has suggested that Poland should not dismiss the possibility of sending troops to Ukraine, as reported by Reuters on Tuesday. However, Sikorski did not specify the potential role that Polish troops would play in Ukraine.

The NATO Parliamentary Assembly has adopted a declaration permitting Ukraine to use Western military aid to strike targets within Russian territory. This decision was made during the plenary session in Sofia, with the majority of delegates supporting the measure despite nine opposing votes.

Ukrainian aerial attacks killed a woman in the Russian border region of Belgorod and a man in the Russian-controlled city of Donetsk in eastern Ukraine, officials announced Tuesday.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stated that Russia is prepared if the West chooses to engage in a conflict over Ukraine. Lavrov made these remarks during a parliamentary hearing discussing the formation of the new government.

Reports from AFP and Reuters have revealed that Russia is set to conduct military exercises in the near future, involving the use of tactical nuclear weapons. The maneuvers, ordered by President Vladimir Putin, aim to test the readiness of non-strategic nuclear forces and will include preparation and deployment drills.

French President Emmanuel Macron has initiated confidential talks with US President Joe Biden and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, advocating for a change in the West's approach to Russia's ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

The Kremlin said Friday it is in a "state of war" in Ukraine, escalating the official language it uses to describe the conflict, now in its third year.

Russia has presented its offensive on Ukraine as a "special military operation," banned media outlets from using the word "war" and prosecuted anti-offensive campaigners for using the word to describe Russia's military actions.