The worsening situation in the Donbas, the decision to provide Ukraine with long-range missile systems, and negative signals about granting Ukraine the status of a “candidate” for EU membership.

In general, the situation for the Ukrainian troops on the Donetsk front has deteriorated significantly over the week, and the formation of an operational crisis is possible.

During the week, the main military activity was concentrated in the Lugansk and Donetsk directions. The intensity of hostilities and the concentration of troops decreased. There is a transition of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation to the tactics of operating in small groups (platoon, company character), greater involvement of PMCs, special forces, and units of the “DLNR,” and saving resources.

The situation in Ukraine:

From April 1 to May 2, 2022

Key trends:

🔹In terms of the number of countries whose resources are somehow involved in the war in Ukraine, the situation is already approaching a world war:
1) At a meeting in German Ramstein at a US military base, a new anti-Russian coalition was actually formed - more than 40 countries have already agreed to coordinate military assistance to Ukraine to repel Russian aggression. For example, 38 countries took part in the First World War, 62 participated in the Second World War;
2) 4 out of 5 global states and associations are already involved in the war (USA, RF, EU, NATO);

Negotiators consistently state that one of the most difficult issues to discuss remains the status of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea (Crimea) and the Donetsk and Lugansk Oblasts of Ukraine (Russian called “LDNR”). Indeed, issues of territorial integrity and sovereignty are "red lines" for any state leader. Even discussing them can often be qualified as a serious criminal offence.

On March 27, 2022, in an interview with Russian media, President V. Zelensky stated that he agreed to the neutral status of Ukraine, subject to security guarantees. V.Zelensky: “Security guarantees and neutrality, non-nuclear status of our state. We are ready to go for it. This is the most important point. This was the first point of principle for the Russian Federation, as far as I remember. And as far as I remember, they started a war because of this.