Zelensky postpones foreign travel as Russia makes gains in Kharkiv offensive

Driving the news: Zelensky rescheduled all of his foreign trips that had been "planned for the upcoming days" — which included a trip to Spain — and instructed his team to reschedule, his office said in a Telegram post.

• "We are grateful to our partners for their understanding," it added.

The big picture: Russia launched a new ground assault on the northeast region of Kharkiv last week, ratcheting up attacks on Ukraine's second largest city.

• Russian forces have captured 40 to 50 square miles of Kharkiv region in recent days, forcing thousands of Ukrainians to flee their homes, AP reported.
• Ukraine's armed forces wrote in a Facebook post Tuesday that some of its forces in Kharkiv "moved to more advantageous positions" due to the Russian assault.
• Zelensky struck a positive note in a Telegram post Tuesday, writing, that "the situation is under control."

Zoom out: Congress passed a $61 billion aid package last month for Ukraine after months of stalling.

• The Pentagon said on Monday that the latest tranche of aid had begun reaching Ukraine.
• Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who visited Kyiv Tuesday, told CBS' "Face the Nation" in an interview that aired Sunday "there's no doubt there's been a cost" to the delay in sending the aid to Ukraine.

Go deeper: Blinken visits Ukraine as Russian forces step up Kharkiv assault

Editor's note: This story was updated with additional developments.