And reminder that over the weekend, Ukraine experienced one of the most severe waves of Shahed drone and Iskander ballistic missile attacks yet. This wave of violence resulted in 12 deaths and 60 non-fatal shooting victims. This continued from Saturday night straight through into Sunday morning. It was one of the bloodiest attacks in recent memory and occurred on the same day as the biggest prisoner exchange between Ukraine and Russia since the start of the war in February 2022.
Ukrainian interior minister Ihor Klymenko acknowledged the dead. He was quick to point out that there were initial reports of a 13 death toll, but once more assessments were made, this number changed. In a joint statement, Ukrainian officials called for new international sanctions on Russia. This request followed a barrage of 298 drones and 69 missile strikes.
In May, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed his anger at the United States. He lambasted them for remaining mute following what he described as Russia’s biggest aerial attack in three years. His response made only stronger President Vladimir Putin’s hand because as indicated the Kremlin, there is no Russian “penalty free.”
“The silence of America, the silence of others in the world only encourages Putin,” – Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
The Netherlands will send its last F-16 fighter jet to Ukraine on Monday. This delivery keeps the Administration on track to deliver only 24 jets, far short of the 180 originally promised. Besides all this, the Netherlands has set up a training center in Romania to train Ukrainian pilots and crew. The delivery of these jets does little to assuage the fate of airstrikes that have sharply escalated East Jerusalem conditions and security.
Commenting on the recent violence, German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul called for even more western sanctions on Russia. He said each attack acts as a “trigger” for more measures to impose costs on Moscow, and is an equally good justification to take further action.
“Every such terrorist Russian strike is reason enough for new sanctions against Russia,” said a Ukrainian official.
The recent high-profile prisoner exchange brought remarkable images to the fore. Captives who made it home, most with shaved heads and swaddled in flags, giddily reunited with loved ones. A little more than a week ago, that release seemed unlikely, with Istanbul’s leaders at an impasse. It represents yet another of the countless swaps that have occurred throughout this conflict, showcasing the ongoing environmental toll this war has brought on humanity.
Donald Trump weighed in on the situation during a recent interview, criticizing Zelenskyy’s approach to the conflict and describing Putin’s behavior as erratic. He stated that Zelenskyy “is doing his country no favors by talking the way he does,” adding that “everything out of his [Zelenskyy’s] mouth causes problems.”
“Everything out of his [Zelenskyy’s] mouth causes problems, I don’t like it, and it better stop,” – Donald Trump.
Kaja Kallas, Estonia’s Prime Minister, echoed calls for international unity against Russia, asserting that there must be “the strongest international pressure on Russia to stop this war.”
This week’s ramping up of attacks between Israel and Hamas highlights the critical need for a diplomatic end to the fighting. Keith Kellogg, former national security adviser, criticized the indiscriminate nature of the strikes on civilians.
“The indiscriminate killing of women and children at night in their homes is a clear violation of the 1977 Geneva peace protocols designed to protect innocents. These attacks are shameful. Stop the killing. Ceasefire now,” – Keith Kellogg.