Daria Novikov, Nicole Wolkov, Anna Harvey,

Angelica Evans, and Karolina Hird with William Runkel

May 20, 2025, 5:00 pm ET

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Ukraine's Western allies continue to provide military aid to Ukraine and support Ukraine's defense industry. Italian media reported in mid-May 2025 that Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto announced that Italy approved an eleventh military aid package for Ukraine, which will include one SAMP/T air and missile defense system, 400 M-113 armored personnel carriers, and ammunition. Ukrainian state-owned defense enterprise manager Ukroboronprom reported on May 20 that it signed a memorandum of cooperation with Belgian ammunition manufacturer KNDS Belgium to coordinate the joint assembly of medium-caliber ammunition for automatic cannons.

The European Union (EU) and the United Kingdom (UK) announced several sanctions packages against Russia on May 20. The package is the EU's largest targeting Russia's shadow fleet and the Russian energy and military-industrial sector. The EU also sanctioned the Russian Radiological, Chemical, and Biological Defense Troops; the 27th Scientific Center; and the Russian Ministry of Defense's 33rd Central Scientific Research and Testing Institute for Russia's use of chemical weapons in Ukraine. The UK also announced new sanctions against Russia's military, energy, and financial sectors on May 20.

The Russian Ministry of Defense (MoD) confirmed Colonel General Valery Solodchuk's recent appointment as Central Military District (CMD) commander on May 20. Solodchuk most recently served as commander of the Kursk Grouping of Forces and led Russia's efforts to eliminate the Ukrainian salient in Kursk Oblast. Solodchuk is replacing Colonel General Andrei Mordvichev, who reportedly recently replaced General Oleg Salyukov as Russian Ground Forces Commander.

Key Takeaways:

• Senior Russian officials continue to deny the legitimacy of the Ukrainian president, government, and constitution and Ukraine's sovereignty despite Russian President Vladimir Putin's recent efforts to feign interest in peace negotiations to end the war.

• Medvedev also reiterated long-standing Russian demands tantamount to Ukraine’s complete capitulation.

• Ukraine's Western allies continue to provide military aid to Ukraine and support Ukraine's defense industry.

• The European Union (EU) and the United Kingdom (UK) announced several sanctions packages against Russia on May 20.

• The Russian Ministry of Defense (MoD) confirmed Colonel General Valery Solodchuk's recent appointment as Central Military District (CMD) commander on May 20.

• Russian forces recently advanced in Sumy and Kharkiv oblasts, near Chasiv Yar and Toretsk, and in the Zaporizhia direction.

Click Here to Read the Full Update

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