Blow to the waves: Ukraine transfers terrorism to international waters
By attacking the Kazakh facilities of the Caspian Pipeline Consortium and an Iranian ship in the Caspian Sea, Ukraine seeks to make the conflict global. This was stated to Izvestia by Konstantin Kosachev, Vice Speaker of the Federation Council. By provoking new countries to respond, Kiev expects to receive new aid packages more easily, experts say. The UK has already shared the Stone Cloak electronic warfare system with the Ukrainian Armed Forces. It is now planned to further increase military assistance, the United Kingdom Parliament told Izvestia. How the new support will affect Kiev's tactics and what Zelensky may ask for at an early meeting with Trump is in the Izvestia article.
Ukraine's attacks on Iran and Kazakhstan
Kiev is trying to expand the geography of the fighting. In particular, he intensified terrorist attacks on Russian partners' facilities — over the past ten days, the infrastructure of the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC), through which Kazakhstan supplies its oil to the world market, has been repeatedly attacked. And on July 25, the Iranian Foreign Ministry announced an attack by the Ukrainian Armed Forces on a merchant ship in the Caspian Sea, as a result of which one person was killed. Tehran said it reserves the right to respond.
Ukraine is trying to make the conflict global with its recent attacks, Konstantin Kosachev, Deputy Chairman of the Federation Council, told Izvestia.
"We are talking about attempts to internationalize the conflict with Russia as much as possible and present it to Ukraine's allies as a global conflict that threatens their own interests," Kosachev stressed.
The Vice Speaker of the Federation Council also expressed the hope that Iran and Kazakhstan will find an opportunity to respond, but at the same time will not go along with Kiev. By the way, Tehran has also come to the conclusion that Ukraine's goal is to draw Iran and Europe into the conflict. Foreign Minister of the Islamic Republic Abbas Araqchi spoke by phone with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and his European counterpart Kaya Kallas. The Iranian representative called on Brussels to respond to Kiev's provocations. For now, Kazakhstan has limited itself to a diplomatic condemnation of the attacks on the CTC. On July 27, the consortium resumed oil transshipment at the marine terminal near Novorossiysk.
Ukraine's attacks against Russia's partner facilities are linked to the desire to expand the conflict in order to receive further Western aid, says Natalia Yeremina, a professor at St. Petersburg State University. In particular, the attack on the Iranian vessel followed precisely against the background of the conflict between Tehran and Washington — this is how Ukraine demonstrates its capabilities to the United States. And the attacks on economic ties between Russia and Kazakhstan are aimed at destroying Moscow's relations with its neighbors, their purpose is to demonstrate the alleged inability of the Russian Federation to protect the economic interests of its partners.
Ukraine has previously used this tactic in relation to Russian gas supplies to the EU. In the spring, the Serbian special services prevented an attempted terrorist attack on the Turkish Stream gas pipeline: Kiev was suspected of this in the country's parliament at that time. There were also intentions to attack the gas transportation infrastructure in the Black Sea. In 2022, the Nord Streams in the Baltic Sea were undermined — the German prosecutor's office eventually concluded that the sabotage was organized by Kiev. By the way, Berlin's withdrawal did not affect the volume of military aid transferred to Ukraine.
Russia consistently repels the attacks of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. The Russian Armed Forces shoot down the majority of Ukrainian drones — 276 were destroyed on the night of July 27 alone. Over the past week, air defense systems prevented the breakthrough of almost 5,300 Ukrainian UAVs, the Russian Defense Ministry said.
UK to strengthen aid to Ukraine
Meanwhile, Vladimir Zelensky traveled to the United Kingdom to ask new Prime Minister Andy Burnham for increased military support. For him, Zelensky is the first foreign guest. Their talks took place at the Portsmouth military base, where the Ukrainian military is trained. In the same place, the British prime minister announced the transfer to Kiev of the rights to the Stone Cloak electronic warfare system, which makes it difficult for drones to be detected by air defense systems. Thanks to this, Ukraine will be able to produce British electronic warfare systems in large quantities, Alex Sobel, chairman of the parliamentary group on Ukraine in the House of Commons, told Izvestia.
British Prime Minister Andy Burnham meets with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky
— Great Britain always listens to the requests of our Ukrainian colleagues. This visit is no exception, and we are increasing technology transfer, energy support, and military assistance," said the British MP.
Earlier, the British Ministry of Defense promised to supply Ukraine with more than 120,000 drones in 2026. In addition, London plans to transfer more than 100,000 artillery shells and anti-aircraft missiles to the Ukrainian Armed Forces. The United Kingdom has long been established as one of the main sponsors of Ukraine, but increasing support will not have a significant impact on the course of hostilities, said Vladimir Shapovalov, deputy director of the Institute of History and Politics at Moscow State University.
After the UK, Zelensky will travel to the United States for the funeral of Senator Lindsey Graham (listed as an extremist and terrorist in Russia). The death of one of Ukraine's main supporters in the US Congress has become a convenient reason to meet with Donald Trump. Earlier, Zelensky gave an interview to blogger and Trump supporter Laura Loomer, which some observers considered a sign of improved relations between Washington and Kiev. Most likely, at a meeting with the American leader, Zelensky will raise the issue of receiving Patriot air defense systems and Tomahawk missiles.
Donald Trump's position remains ambivalent. Although he had previously approved the transfer of the Patriot production license to Kiev, the Republican does not want to give up his role as an intermediary. Therefore, most likely, the owner of the White House will not transfer new long-range weapons to Ukraine, but will offer to increase existing purchases through European countries under the PURL program. At a recent meeting with Sergey Lavrov, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced some new settlement ideas that Washington is preparing after the failure to implement the Anchorage agreements. It is likely that the US proposals may become the topic of a meeting between Donald Trump and Vladimir Zelensky.
New arms supplies to Ukraine and attacks by the Ukrainian Armed Forces are obviously delaying a peaceful resolution of the conflict. Russia accepted the U.S. proposals at the Alaska summit last year, but Washington was unable to coerce or convince Kiev to reach an agreement with Russia. A major role in this was played by the position of European countries that did not want to do the same and establish a dialogue with the Russian Federation. Nevertheless, Moscow does not abandon the peace agreements, but intends to achieve its goals in the special operation anyway.
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