Russia Criticizes NATO Commitments to Ukraine: "Irresponsible"

Russia has sharply criticized the decisions made at the NATO summit concerning further support for Ukraine. The Russian Foreign Ministry accused European NATO members of preparing for an armed conflict with Russia, labeling the decisions as "irresponsible" and potentially leading to disaster.

At the NATO summit in Ankara, Ukraine was pledged military aid amounting to 70 billion euros for 2026, with at least the same amount for 2027. Additionally, the US President announced that Ukraine will henceforth be permitted to produce Patriot air defense missiles under license.

Concurrently, Ukraine has reportedly attacked several Russian targets. Ukrainian armed forces announced the destruction of over a dozen Russian oil tankers and other vessels in the Sea of Azov, claiming these ships supplied fuel to the Russian army and circumvented sanctions. Ukraine also reportedly set a transshipment terminal in Russia's Rostov region ablaze.

Ukrainian President Zelenskyy stated that Ukraine is attacking Russian oil depots in response to Russia's prolonging of the war and its continued attacks. Earlier in the week, Ukraine also claimed to have attacked tankers belonging to Russia's so-called "shadow fleet" in the Sea of Azov, in an effort to bypass Western sanctions.