Russia has stepped up its aerial assaults on Ukraine, killing at least 14 civilians in the latest wave of attacks. The brutal campaign is part of a deliberate strategy by Moscow to create an impression that it has the upper hand in the conflict and undermine Ukraine’s morale.
US President Donald Trump has made ending the war in Ukraine one of his priorities, but despite promises, he seems to have grown increasingly impatient with Moscow and Kyiv. Trump has been flip-flopping between threatening to punish Russia with more sanctions if it doesn’t sign up to a ceasefire proposal and suggesting he could walk away from the issue altogether.
Analysts say Russia’s strategy is to create an illusion that it is winning the war, in an “effort to degrade Ukrainian morale and convince the West that a Russian victory in Ukraine is inevitable and that supporting Ukraine is futile.” The only way for Russia to win the war in Ukraine is if Western allies, particularly the United States, stop supporting Kyiv.
Russia has been stalling ceasefire talks proposed by Trump, while trying to appear cooperative and shift the blame on Kyiv. When given an ultimatum, Putin ignored it and called for direct talks between Ukraine and Russia, which Trump immediately endorsed.
The consequences of the Russian strikes have been horrifying, with at least 209 civilians killed across Ukraine last month, the deadliest month since September 2024. The latest attack has left three siblings, Tamara, Roman, and Stanislav Martynyuk, dead, sparking an outpouring of grief from their community.
Experts say that despite Russia’s air superiority over Ukraine, it is far from “winning” the war. The situation on the ground in Ukraine is better described as both sides losing, with Ukrainian forces mounting a surprisingly strong defense and reclaiming large swaths of territory.
The international community must take note of these developments and continue to support Ukraine in its efforts to defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Source: https://edition.cnn.com/2025/05/27/europe/russia-aerial-terror-ukraine-war-intl