Closing summary
… and on that note, it’s a wrap for today!
Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Ukraine will “not allow any of the aggressor’s strikes … go unpunished,” and would be “entirely justified” to hit Russia’s oil industry, military production in retaliation for the recent Russian attacks on the country (16:30).
His comments come after 24 people were reported killed, including three children, in a Russian cruise missile attack on an apartment block in Kyiv (10:45, 13:11).
US president Donald Trump responded to the Russian attack saying the Ukrainians “took a big hit,” and suggesting the strikes could set back efforts to end the war (16:37).
Ukraine has already launched a large-scale long-range drone attack targeting several regions in Russia including the huge Ryazan oil refinery (12:51).
Zelenskyy also warned about intercepted Russian plans to hit Ukraine’s “decision-making centres,” including key political and military offices.
Elsewhere,
The US army has confirmed the cancellation of the planned deployment of 4,000 US troops to Poland as part of a broader reorganisation of force posture in Europe (13:41, 17:24).
Senior US diplomat said the changes “should not surprise anyone” as they are part of a broader US realignment, even if early adjustments “can be a little bit shocking,” but he insisted the US would still be a reliable ally for Europe (17:11).
But Polish officials insisted they received assurances from the US that there would be no substantial change to security guarantees for Poland, as they hinted that more US troops coming to Poland could be reassigned from elsewhere (13:41, 17:50).
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Updated
Poland 'will not lose out' on changes to US troops rotation, and 'may gain permanent presence,' defence minister suggests
For what it’s worth, the Polish government appears to be suggesting that the decision to stop the rotational deployment is only a small part of a bigger reshuffle in the US force posture in Europe and that when all is done, the US presence in the country will not be worse than it is now.
Poland’s defence minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz directly linked the decision regarding Poland with Trump’s move to pull 5,000 US soldiers from Germany, and argued that other US troops could be directed to Poland from there or elsewhere – and even more than now.
This is his explanation:
“What is happening today in Europe and in Europe-US relations? President Trump ordered the withdrawal of 5,000 troops from Germany. The … reorganisation process was approved in the last few hours by the Pentagon and involves the withdrawal of soldiers from Germany, but for this to be possible, this process needs to be prepared.
The Americans decided that this reorganisation would not only take place in Germany but would have a broader European context.
[But] if a different brigade comes to Poland than originally intended, perhaps the one from Germany, and 5,000 troops leave Germany, then, as we are assured by the commanders of US forces in Europe, there is no change in security guarantees for Poland.
The process is logistical and technical in nature and may take some time. We are in contact, particularly with the commander-in-chief of US forces in Europe, General Grynkewich.”
Pushed on this further, he added:
“Poland will certainly not lose out. I think it may gain a permanent, rather than a rotational, presence.”
Updated
