Production: By Europod, in co-production with Sphera Network.

EUobserver is proud to have an editorial partnership with Europod to co-publish the podcast series “Briefed” hosted by Léa Marchal. The podcast is available on all major platforms.

Find the full transcript below:

The European Union is boosting assistance for drone manufacturing to aid Ukraine’s defense operations.

Last week, Donald Trump also cleared Kyiv to build Patriot missiles locally.

At the same time, Russia appears to be bracing for an outcome short of outright success.

So how does Ukraine’s position look in its fight against Russia over recent weeks?

Ukraine is ramping up its offensive actions toward Russia.

On Thursday, Ukrainian drones hit Russia’s Engels-2 air base, which houses strategic bombers frequently deployed for strikes on Ukraine.

Photos, videos, and witness reports described fires at the base along with blasts and electricity cuts in the nearby city of Engels after the strike.

Also on Thursday, the Ukrainian military reported hitting 11 vessels from Russia’s shadow fleet in the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov. These vessels carry Russian oil while evading global sanctions.

Ukraine has likewise conducted an increasing series of strikes on Russian oil refineries and fuel depots.

So, is this approach delivering results?

Yes.

Russia’s fuel output has been hampered, curbing both its oil shipments and, more critically, its military activities since some affected refineries serve the Russian armed forces.

Perhaps even more notably, Russia’s progress inside Ukraine has kept slowing. Moscow has fallen far short of the territorial advances it sought in recent months.

A leaked document from the Russian presidential administration sets out points for framing a future peace deal with Ukraine as a Russian success. The authors also caution that pushing to extend the conflict could ultimately trigger Russia’s downfall.

These developments offer positive signals for Ukraine, yet they must be balanced. The country continues to endure intense Russian assaults and is expending substantial funds and personnel in its defense.

Even so, the recent trends are prompting Ukraine’s partners to sustain and even expand their backing.

On Wednesday, the European Union unveiled a fresh defense industry collaboration with Ukraine. The core aim is to merge Ukraine’s drone technology skills with Europe’s production capacity to supply more drones to the Ukrainian forces.

In practice, Ukraine supplies the expertise while the EU furnishes manufacturing sites beyond the range of Russian attacks.

The United States is likewise expanding its aid. Several days ago, Donald Trump stated that Ukraine may now produce Patriot missiles on its own soil. These missiles serve to counter Russian ballistic attacks and shield Ukrainian cities.

This fresh demonstration of support, also evident at last week’s Nato summit, bolsters Ukraine at a moment when its overall strategic stance versus Russia looks firmer than in prior months.