Russian Drone Attack on Ukraine; Blinken Calls for Financial Aid Approval for Kyiv in US Congress

On Tuesday, February 10, Ukraine announced that in the previous night's attacks by the Russian army, 35 drones and two guided missiles targeted several areas of the country, including fuel and energy infrastructure. The Ukrainian Air Force reported that its air defense destroyed 15 drones, including interceptor drones, over the regions of Mykolaiv, Sumy, Cherkasy, Dnipro, Kharkiv, Kherson, and Kyiv. Earlier, on Monday, February 9, Russia announced that its air defense had neutralized attacks from 21 Ukrainian drones. Russian news agencies reported that the Russian army intercepted or destroyed Ukrainian drones over the Crimean Peninsula, which Moscow annexed in 2014, and in the Belgorod, Bryansk, Kaluga, and Tula regions. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken warned on Monday that if the US Congress does not approve a new round of aid to Ukraine, the country's defensive capabilities against Russian attacks would be at risk. In a joint press conference with NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg in Washington, Blinken stated, 'Without this aid, everything that the Ukrainians have achieved with our help will be at risk.' Stoltenberg expressed confidence that the US would continue to support Ukraine, stating that it is in America's interest for Russia not to succeed in Ukraine. He added that aiding Ukraine is a joint effort by NATO allies and should not be seen as charity but rather as 'an investment in our own security.' Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin met with his Belarusian counterpart Alexander Lukashenko in St. Petersburg to discuss the expansion of the two countries' alliance. Earlier, Russia had deployed some of its nuclear weapons on Belarusian territory. Putin emphasized 'strategic partnership' as part of a 25-year union agreement between the two countries regarding political, economic, and military relations. Lukashenko has ruled Belarus with an iron fist for nearly three decades, relying on subsidies and political support from Russia. Moscow's support helped him weather significant protests against his re-election in the controversial 2020 vote. In February 2022, Lukashenko allowed Russia to use Belarusian territory to send troops to Ukraine. On the other hand, Hungary announced on Monday that it is ready for a compromise that would allow the proposed European Union aid package worth $54 billion to Ukraine to be secured before the emergency meeting of the institution on Thursday, February 12. Viktor Orban, Hungary's Prime Minister, has been a staunch critic of the EU's financial and military support for Kyiv and has maintained close relations with the Kremlin since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in March 2022. If Hungary opposes this aid package, EU leaders will propose an alternative plan that includes an agreement between 26 NATO members and Ukraine, which would prohibit Budapest from accessing related EU funds. Russia has once again attacked Ukraine's civilian infrastructure. The emphasis from the US and NATO on the need to counter the destructive activities of the Islamic Republic in the Middle East. US senators: Military cooperation between North Korea and Russia is further evidence of the need to support Ukraine. Negotiations about NATO; the Prime Ministers of Sweden and Hungary are set to meet. Atomic scientists: 'The Doomsday Clock' is closer to midnight than ever. Unity Day in Ukraine; Zelensky praised the 'unyielding spirit' of his people.