In a surprising turn during a brief energy truce between Russia and Ukraine, Vladimir Putin authorized a new missile and drone attack on Kyiv late Monday, just days before the next round of peace talks in Abu Dhabi. The strikes coincided with preparations by Ukrainian, Russian, and U.S. delegations for the talks, prompting NATO to scramble aircraft along its eastern flank.
Reports indicate that Russia launched over 60 ballistic and cruise missiles including hypersonic weapons alongside at least 350 attack drones. The assault caused widespread disruption to Kyiv’s heating and electricity infrastructure, leaving many residents facing freezing conditions. Officials estimate that roughly 1,170 apartment buildings were affected, highlighting the human cost of the renewed violence amid the harsh winter.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky sharply criticized Russia’s actions, questioning Moscow’s commitment to the agreed pause. He said, “Last night, Russia broke its promise, that means either Russia now believes a week has fewer than four days instead of seven, or it is genuinely betting only on war and simply waited for the coldest days of this winter.” For more background on the political tensions surrounding these decisions, you can read Melania’s email to Ghislaine and its wider implications and Putin’s public statements and reactions to sanctions.
Meanwhile, former U.S. President Donald Trump weighed in from the Oval Office, defending Putin’s adherence to the truce. Speaking on Tuesday, Trump said, “I know it was Sunday. It was Sunday to Sunday, and it opened up and he hit him hard last night. No, he, he, agreed. He kept his word on that. One week is, we'll take anything because it's really, really cold over there.” When asked whether he was disappointed that Russia had not taken further steps toward peace, Trump reiterated his stance: “Yeah, I would like him. I want him to end the war. I spoke to him. I want him to end the war.”
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov confirmed on Wednesday that Russia will continue its military campaign while keeping the door open for negotiations. According to the state-run Tass news agency, Peskov said, “Russia is continuing its special military operation. The door to a peaceful settlement is open, and Russia remains open.” For deeper context on Russia’s strategic moves and intelligence involvement, see the Epstein Files expose on Russian spies.
As the Abu Dhabi talks began, several critical issues are expected to dominate discussions. One key point is the status of Ukraine’s eastern Donbas region, partially occupied by Russian forces, where Moscow is demanding a full Ukrainian military withdrawal a proposal Kyiv has already rejected. Another major topic is the future control of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant in southern Ukraine, under Russian occupation since March 2022.
Security guarantees for Ukraine after the war are also central to the negotiations. Kyiv has called for binding involvement from Western forces to prevent future aggression, while Russia has repeatedly rejected the deployment of NATO troops on Ukrainian soil. Yet, following discussions with U.S. peace envoy Steve Witkoff over the weekend, Russian negotiator Kirill Dmitriev suggested some flexibility, stating, “Some security guarantees in some form may be acceptable.”
Comments
Post a Comment