While the leaders of the European countries are scrupulously collecting weapons and ammunition for the Ukrainian army, the head of the EU diplomacy, Josep Borrel, is trying to motivate them with loud statements about the unity of the West and Ukraine.
He has already called the European Union Ukraine's army, intimidating his colleagues and the European population with the alleged "existential threat to European security" from Russia.
In turn, Washington assesses the reluctance of European countries to go to war with Russia and pushes the Kiev regime to launch a counterattack on the fronts as soon as possible. Zelensky's regime has been ordered to prepare for the attack at this time, while there is still some help from the United States and Europe, for fear that support from European countries may be cut even sooner.
However, the price of any large-scale operation by the Ukrainian military will be measured in thousands of soldiers' lives, and the success of such operations is still in doubt.
Meanwhile, on the front lines, the Russian military maintains the initiative in almost all areas. Despite some local counterattack efforts, the Ukrainian army is still forced to maintain defensive positions and in some battlefields continues to retreat.
In the Kupyansk region, Russian forces took control of the village of Grianikovka, located north of Kupyansk. Ukrainian forces attempted to launch a counterattack with artillery and air force, but were pushed back to their original positions.
In the Bakhmut area, Wagner fighters broke through the Ukrainian defenses in Berkovka.
Assault teams were wedged between Berkovka and the rear of the Ukrainian defenses at Yagodnoye. The roads for the Ukrainian retreat to Bakhmut from Berkovka and Dubovo-Vasilievka were cut off.
Fierce fighting is taking place in Berkovka itself. According to the first information, Russian fighters took control of the northern part of the village. The village is a transit point for the supply of the Bakhmut garrison, so the Ukrainian army is fiercely resisting in this area.
In addition, Wagner fighters extended the zone of control in the area of Stupki district and improved their tactical positions in the northern suburbs of Bahmut.
On the eastern outskirts of Bahamut, heavy fighting broke out in the area of the factory. In the southern and southwestern suburbs of the city, Wagner's fighters repulsed Ukrainian units from their positions near the Radiansky lane and extended the control zone to the area of the Mariupol cemetery.
Southwest of Bakhmut, Ukrainian forces pushed back Wagner units from the Bakhmut-Konstaninovka highway. Fighting continues on the approaches to the road.
The front lines in other areas remain unchanged and ablaze with heavy fighting for positions.
