UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The United States accused Russia on Monday of a “dangerous and inexplicable escalation” of its nearly four-year war in Ukraine at a time when the Trump administration is trying to advance peace negotiations.
Deputy US ambassador to the United Nations Tammy Bruce cited Russia’s launch of a nuclear-capable Oreshnik ballistic missile last week near Ukraine’s border with NATO ally Poland.
During an emergency meeting of the Security Council she said that the United States deplores the “shocking number of victims” in the conflict and condemns the attacks that Russia is intensifying on energy and other infrastructure.
Ukraine called for the meeting after the Russian bombardment during last Thursday night with hundreds of drones and dozens of missiles, including the powerful and new hypersonic Oreshnik missile, which Moscow used for only the second time in what was a clear warning to Kiev’s NATO allies.
The large-scale attack came days after Ukraine and its allies reported major progress toward an agreement on how to defend the country from further aggression by Moscow if a US-led peace deal is reached.
The attack also coincided with a fresh chill in relations between Moscow and Washington after Russia condemned the US seizure of an oil tanker in the North Atlantic. And it comes as US President Donald Trump has indicated he is on board with a hard-hitting sanctions package designed to cripple Russia economically.
Moscow has given no public signal that it is ready to abandon its maximalist demands on Ukraine. And Russia’s UN ambassador on Monday blamed the diplomatic impasse on Ukraine.
Europe’s leaders condemned the attack using the Oreshnik as “escalating and unacceptable,” and US envoy Bruce was just as harsh on Monday.
“At a moment of tremendous potential, given only President Trump’s unparalleled commitment to peace around the world, both sides should be looking for ways to slow down,” she said. “However Russia’s action risks expanding and intensifying the war.”
Bruce reminded Russia that almost a year ago it voted in favor of a Security Council resolution calling for an end to the conflict in Ukraine.
“It would be nice if Russia matched their words with deeds,” she said. “In the spirit of that resolution, Russia, Ukraine and Europe must seriously pursue peace and bring an end to this nightmare.”
But Russia’s UN Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia told the Security Council that until Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy “comes to his senses and agrees to realistic conditions for negotiations, we will continue to solve the problem by military means.”
“He was warned long ago, with every day that passes, every day that he wastes, the conditions for negotiations will get worse for him,” said Nebenzia. “Similarly, any vile attack on Russian civilians will provoke a harsh response.”
Ukraine’s UN Ambassador Andriy Melnyk countered that Russia is more vulnerable now than at any time since the start of a full-scale invasion in February 2022. Its economy is slowing and oil revenues have fallen.
“Russia wants to sell this council and the whole UN family the impression that it is invincible, but this is another illusion,” he told the council. “The carefully placed image of strength is nothing but smoke and mirrors, completely detached from reality.”