Ukraine reports Donetsk gains as EU leaders pledge support, Italy criticises US restrictions

Ukraine has reported fresh battlefield gains in the eastern Donetsk region, saying its forces have reclaimed more than 100 square miles of occupied land and ended a major Russian advance. The claims came as EU leaders met in Brussels and vowed to keep supporting Kyiv, even as relations between Ukraine and Washington remain strained.

French President Emmanuel Macron said Europe would not abandon Ukraine. President Volodymyr Zelensky, attending the two-day summit, thanked what he called the real leaders in the room and praised their continued support in the war with Russia. The show of backing in Brussels took place against a backdrop of worsening ties between Kyiv and Washington. President Donald Trump had earlier described Ukraine's decision to resume strikes on Russian oil refineries as a disgrace.

On the battlefield, Ukraine's military says it is taking prisoners, inflicting casualties and reclaiming more territory in four months than Russian forces have taken all year. The operation in Donetsk is known as Operation Vivaldi, named for its four stages or four seasons. A commander said the preparation was enormous and the men trained for months. He said Ukraine had to restructure its approach because it had previously been defending and was now going on the offensive.

The front line is reached down dangerous roads. Nets are used to stop drones, but missiles remain a threat. On an average day, troops face about 10 Russian drones. A command centre used to run the operation is buried underground and its location is kept secret. Troops are rotated after long spells at the front. In one case, soldiers returned after 95 days, having moved positions four times over three months. Morale was described as high.

Drones and remote-controlled systems have led the charge. Ukraine has used remote-controlled explosive devices dropped behind enemy lines. Commanders say connectivity is vital and that more technology means fewer casualties. But Ukraine believes its access to Starshield, the military version of Elon Musk's satellite network, was restricted after a row with the White House. One soldier said Starlink was the backbone of military communications. He said Ukraine relied on it heavily and hoped the United States would be predictable in future, adding that political reasons were currently being put above Ukrainian lives.

One wounded soldier, Viktor, suffered blast injuries during the offensive. Commanders say they are learning how to gain ground while limiting losses. The report said that without reliable US support, intelligence and communications, it is almost impossible for Ukraine to succeed on the battlefield and beyond.

Italy, a strong ally of Ukraine since Russia's full-scale invasion, has also criticised US restrictions. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni this week sharply criticised Trump's deal to buy diesel from Russia. Defence Minister Guido Crosetto said the United States was completely wrong to restrict Ukraine's ability to defend itself. He called it a complete mistake and said it meant denying a country every means of defending itself. He argued that such a move made no sense and would not bring peace.

Crosetto said peace would come when Putin is convinced there is a stalemate and that he cannot advance further. If Putin sees weakness on the Ukrainian side, and if the US deprives Ukraine of resources, that creates weakness, he said. Putin would then believe he can win and continue the war. Asked whether Trump was giving Putin a window to win, Crosetto said no, but added that weakening Ukraine gives its enemy an advantage. He said the US position was completely wrong at this moment.

He also said European allies face difficulty in making their case to Trump, pointing to upcoming midterm elections. Until those elections are over, it is impossible to understand Trump's definitive strategy, he said. Crosetto repeated his view that countries cannot be neutral between good and evil. He described Russia's actions as evil, citing tanks crossing borders and attacks on hospitals, schools, civilians and power plants for four years. He warned that the threat from Russia may go beyond Ukraine. He said most of Russia's budget is now spent on weapons and military needs, and that Russia will soon have 1.5 million military personnel. If the war ended tomorrow, he asked what Putin would do with those soldiers. Given continued escalation, he said Putin does not want to stop at Ukraine. Europe and NATO are preparing for that possibility, hoping never to face what he called madness on Russia's part.