Russia's Shifting Focus in Ukraine's War Struggle

The UK Ministry of Defence has said that Russia appears to have shifted its operational focus away from the Donbas town of Bakhmut to areas to the north and south. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has said that an expected counteroffensive against Russian forces cannot happen now because his country still lacks the necessary weapons, equipment, and ammunition. Polish ammunition maker Dezamet, a unit of state arms producer Polska Grupa Zbrojeniowa (PGZ), is set to dramatically ramp up its capacity to supply EU-funded ammunition to Ukraine. The speaker of Russia's parliament, the Duma, has proposed banning the activities of the International Criminal Court (ICC) on Russian soil — and beyond — after the court issued an arrest warrant for President Vladimir Putin. In a meeting with her Chinese counterpart, New Zealand Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta has expressed concern to China over any provision of lethal aid to support Russia in its war against Ukraine.