Ukraine Faces Critical Weeks as Winter and Russian Strikes Loom

Ukraine faces decisive weeks as German Chancellor Friedrich Merz warned during a Kyiv visit that the country confronts a critical period amid Russian strikes and the onset of winter. Kyiv's counteroffensive in Donetsk, including the robot-assisted Operation Vivaldi, has retaken territory, but Russia is expected to escalate long-range attacks on energy infrastructure to pressure Ukraine into submission. Analysts warn adverse weather could degrade Ukraine's strike capabilities, while Russian losses of 46,000 troops last month are unlikely to alter Putin's ambitions to seize the Donbas.