Part 7/14:
Further diplomatic engagement occurred in Istanbul this week, though without breakthroughs, aside from prisoner exchanges. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio reaffirmed support for Ukraine’s defensive efforts but clarified that Washington would no longer offer unfettered military aid—a shift from previous policies. The Ukrainian drone assaults reveal how exposed Russian strategic assets have become and point to a possible shift in the conflict's dynamics, testing Western restraint and patience.