**Slovak Opposition Leader Arrives in Kyiv**
A delegation from Slovakia, led by pro-Western opposition leader Michal Simecka, arrived in Kyiv on January 17. This comes after Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico was invited to visit the city amid tensions between Ukraine and Slovakia over gas transit.
Fico had threatened to limit aid to Ukrainians and cut off electricity supplies due to the termination of Russian gas transit through Ukraine to Europe. However, Simecka’s visit aims to “reopen the door” that Fico had slammed shut with his aggressive outbursts.
Simecka said that Slovakia and Ukraine are close partners who can help each other a great deal. The Slovak delegation is planning to hold talks with Ukrainian officials to discuss ways to strengthen their partnership.
**Russia-Ukraine Conflict**
Meanwhile, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine continues to escalate. A missile attack on Kryvyi Rih in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast resulted in the deaths of four people and left three others injured.
The United States has assured Russian President Vladimir Putin that it will not deploy nuclear weapons in Ukraine, outgoing U.S. President Joe Biden said in an interview with MSNBC.
**International Support for Ukraine**
The international community is showing increasing support for Ukraine. The United States, NATO, and other countries have pledged aid to help Ukraine in its conflict against Russia.
NATO has taken over some responsibilities in coordinating aid for Ukraine from the U.S., ensuring a stable support mechanism going forward. Germany’s Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock criticized her own government for hesitancy in supporting Ukraine, saying it is not currently seen as a “driving force” for peace policy in Europe.
**Casualties and Damage**
The conflict has resulted in significant casualties and damage on both sides. Ukrainian forces downed 33 out of the 50 drones launched by Russia overnight, while another nine were lost or failed to reach their targets.
Russia suffered over 1,670 casualties just over the past day, including four deaths from a missile attack on Kryvyi Rih.
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