Russia has intensified its attacks on Ukrainian cities and the battlefield as the United States steps back from diplomatic efforts to end the conflict. The country’s president, Vladimir Putin, appeared to have been goaded into action by comments from former US President Donald Trump, who condemned Russia’s bombardment of cities and accused Putin of being “absolutely crazy” in his bid to conquer Ukraine.
The attacks come after a week where at least 1,390 Russian drones and 94 missiles were directed at targets across Ukraine, killing at least 30 civilians and injuring over 163 people. The Ukrainian Air Force reported that the country’s defenses are becoming increasingly strained as Russia upgrades its arsenal with more advanced radar decoys.
Despite US President Biden’s administration approving $3.85 billion in military assistance for Ukraine, no new shipments have arrived, and it is unclear if additional aid will be provided. This has left Ukraine facing a dire situation, where its interceptor missiles are running out, making Russian bombardments even deadlier.
Analysts warn that the situation will become increasingly dire over the summer as more Russian units are brought in to sustain their push. Ukrainian officials have expressed concerns about the escalating conflict, with former top commander Valery Zaluzhny warning of a “white swan” scenario that will bring peace to Ukraine only if Russia is defeated.
The conflict has been ongoing for three years, and analysts say that the US’s slow withdrawal from diplomatic efforts has given Russia an opening to advance its goals. As one analyst noted, “the U.S. is slowly starving Ukraine of vital aid, which is very much understood and acted on by the Russians.”
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/26/world/europe/russia-ukraine-war-new-phase.html