Kyiv reports missile, Zelensky reiterates preemptive attack intent amid conflicting assessments

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has reiterated Kyiv's intention to conduct "preemptive attacks" on Russian territory. This declaration follows reports of several explosions in Kyiv, with the Ukrainian air force indicating a missile was directed at the capital. The Kremlin, through spokesperson Dmitri Peskov, asserts that Ukrainian strikes on Russia stem from deteriorating front-line conditions, claiming Russian forces are advancing "along the entire front" and predicting "irreversible" outcomes for Kyiv. Conversely, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz affirmed that Kyiv "remains strong" and European support "does not weaken." Meanwhile, a first installment of a €90 billion European loan has been disbursed to Ukraine. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk called for "mutual respect" and "understanding of history" between Poles and Ukrainians at a reconstruction conference. Russian forces continue to exert pressure on rear-front areas such as Sloviansk and Kramatorsk, where defensive nets are deployed against drones.

Sources: Le Monde — International