Ukrainian Officials Visit Washington Amid Ongoing Strikes on Russian-Occupied Territories

Ukrainian Officials Visit Washington Amid Ongoing Strikes on Russian-Occupied Territories

Senior Ukrainian representatives, including Andriy Yermak, chief of staff to President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, and Deputy Prime Minister Yuliia Svrydenko, traveled to Washington on Tuesday to seek increased U.S. support against Russia. Their visit coincides with Ukraine launching one of its most significant coordinated attacks, targeting key infrastructure in occupied territories.

Among their discussions, Ukrainian officials emphasized the need for tougher sanctions on Russia, increased military support, and enhanced defense alongside initiatives related to Ukrainian mineral development and reconstruction funding. Yermak indicated that Ukraine aims to press for stronger measures in line with Ukraine’s ongoing efforts to push back against Russian advances.

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Meanwhile, Ukraine continues to demonstrate its capacity for military action. Recently, Kyiv claimed responsibility for damaging the Kerch Bridge, a vital link connecting Russia to Crimea—the peninsula annexed by Russia in 2014—using explosives. The attack came after a series of drone strikes on Russian military airfields, some housing nuclear-capable bombers, and targeted Russian military units in the border regions of Zaporizhzhia and Kherson. These strikes have caused significant damage, including power outages affecting hundreds of thousands of residents and destruction of critical infrastructure.

Russia responded with artillery shelling that killed three people and wounded 25 in the Ukrainian city of Sumy, amid ongoing tensions and a stalemate in peace negotiations. Moscow has expressed that peace efforts are complex, with Kremlin officials insisting Ukraine must cede substantial territorial concessions and accept limits on its military—conditions Kyiv firmly rejects, viewing them as surrender terms.

Ukrainian President Zelenskiy has publicly criticized Russia’s stance, highlighting that Moscow is not genuinely seeking peace. The latest developments underscore the ongoing escalation and the deep divisions over the conflict’s resolution.