In recent days, several significant political events have taken place. Russian President Vladimir Putin admitted that Russian forces intentionally shot down an Azerbaijani aircraft, but attempted to shift the blame onto Ukraine, citing alleged Ukrainian drones being pursued in the airspace.
This statement follows rising tensions between Russia and Azerbaijan. Analysts note that Moscow is seeking to retain influence in the region while Kyiv and Baku deepen their military and economic ties. Experts say this concerns the Kremlin, highlighted by Putin’s meeting with Azerbaijani President Aliyev, where official apologies were offered.
The European Parliament, responding to threats from Russia and incidents like the downing of the Azerbaijani plane, adopted a set of measures. Most notably, Ukraine was given permission to use Western weapons to strike Russian territory, and EU member states' aircrafts have been authorized to down Russian targets appearing in EU airspace. These developments strengthen European air defense and support for Ukraine during the ongoing conflict.
The European Parliament also rejected resolutions seeking the resignation of European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, reinforcing confidence in EU institutions. Additional international updates include Russia’s stated intention to advance on Zaporizhzhia, Czech politician Andrej Babiš’ planned visit to Ukraine for talks, and Western diplomats’ comments on the potential delivery of new weapon systems to Ukraine.
Meanwhile, anti-corruption discussions remain prominent in Ukraine’s domestic discourse, with former officials accused of corruption retaining assets abroad.
The positions taken by European partners and Parliament show a move toward a tougher policy on Russia and expanded support for Ukraine, particularly through authorization to retaliate against aggression.
