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The possibility has emerged that the EU's backing for Ukraine could face additional complications from certain member states following billionaire Andrej Babis's success in the Czech Republic's parliamentary elections. Babis's election pledge to stop military assistance to Ukraine aligns him with the prime ministers of Hungary and Slovakia, Viktor Orbán and Robert Fico. This represents a significant shift from the position of the outgoing Czech centre-right government under Petr Fiala, which has firmly stood with Ukraine since Russia's invasion in 2022.

Examination Vowed for Czech-Led Defense Aid Program

The probable future prime minister has vowed to reassess a Czech-led international initiative launched by the current government that has delivered 3.5 million artillery shells to Ukraine since 2024.

"Labeling me as a possible disruptor is not accurate," Babis stated after meeting with Czech President Petr Pavel.

The 71-year-old, Slovak-born politician stressed his pro-European stance and desire for "the EU to work effectively." He noted that "Annually, we transfer €2.5 billion to the Brussels budget, and naturally Brussels is assisting Ukraine, so in my view we are doing our part."

International Developments Involving Russian-Ukrainian War

According to reports, US diplomats are preparing to tell UN member countries that the Cuban government is allegedly supporting Russia's military actions in Ukraine with figures suggesting up to 5,000 Cubans may be fighting alongside Moscow's forces. Recent advisories from Ukrainian officials to US lawmakers have highlighted the expanding scope of Russian recruitment of Cuban mercenaries.

"Following North Korea, Cuba appears to be the largest provider of foreign combatants for Russia's military campaign, with approximately 1,000 to 5,000 Cubans involved in fighting in Ukraine," according to diplomatic communications.

Ukrainian President Condemns Western Reaction to Escalating Attacks

Volodymyr Zelenskyy has accused Western nations of showing "virtually no substantive response" to Russia's escalating aerial assaults following a massive attack on Sunday that resulted in six fatalities and eighteen injuries. The western city of Lviv, typically considered among Ukraine's safest urban centers, experienced its most sustained and severe bombardment since the beginning of Vladimir Putin's full-scale invasion.

Zelenskyy reiterated his appeal for Western allies to provide additional air defense systems to counter what he termed Russia's "aerial terrorism". He emphasized that "Now, Russian forces again targeted our infrastructure, everything that allows people to maintain normal living conditions. We require enhanced protection, swift implementation of all defense agreements, particularly regarding air defense, to render this aerial terror ineffective."

International Law Probe Launched Following Journalist's Death

French prosecutors announced on Sunday they had initiated a war crimes investigation after a drone strike killed 37-year-old photojournalist Antoni Lallican. The journalist was embedded with Ukraine's Fourth Armoured Brigade near the frontline in eastern Ukraine's Donbas region when he was killed on Friday. Ukrainian journalist Georgiy Ivanchenko was injured in the same incident, which both Ukrainian military authorities and French President Emmanuel Macron attributed to Russian forces.