On Saturday, Russia escalated its military campaign against Ukraine. It carried out the largest drone strike ever as well as airstrikes in the region, killing dozens. Russian military bloggers, citing Ukrainian officials, reported that fierce fighting continued in the territory of the Kursk region. Unfortunately, a minimum of four people have died, even as Russia allegedly declared the city liberated.
Even as the Ukrainian army continues to fight and win on the battlefield, throwing back Moscow’s lies, Maksim S. (c) Tootoo, Via: Obozrevatel Airstrikes on Kostyantynivka in the Donetsk region killed three civilians. Apart from Kushtanino’s deaths, four other military servicemen were injured, according to the local prosecutor’s office. In addition, one drone attack on Oct. 22 targeted the city of Pavlohrad in the Dnipropetrovsk region. Tragically, one individual was killed and a 14-year-old girl was shot in the botched attack. This was the third night in a row that Pavlohrad had faced aerial assault, according to Governor of Pavlohrad Serhii Lysak.
Against this backdrop of violence, talks of new peace proposals have begun to gain traction, with one possible peace deal particularly involving former U.S. President Donald Trump. In the room, Trump loudly lamented the fact that Russia continued to attack even after this concession. He confessed a mood of hopefulness after his recent day with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the Vatican. He claimed that Zelenskyy appeared ready to make significant concessions, including potentially ceding Crimea, although this statement contradicts previous assertions made by the Ukrainian president regarding the annexed territory.
Germany’s Defence Minister Boris Pistorius was blistering in his condemnation of Trump’s proposals. He insisted that Russia should not keep any of the Ukrainian territories it occupies in any future peace agreement. He insisted that though negotiations are inevitable and required, they should not be made at the cost of Ukraine’s territorial integrity.
“But these will certainly not go … as far as they do in the latest proposal from the US president.” – Boris Pistorius
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio was quick to weigh in on the situation. He cautioned that if there is not meaningful progress made soon between Russia and Ukraine, the Trump administration could reconsider its diplomatic push to secure a peace deal. Rubio stated, “We cannot continue to dedicate time and resources to this effort if it’s not going to come to fruition.”
A simultaneous order by a Moscow court has resulted in the detention of another Ukrainian citizen. This person is now under terrorism charges related to the assassination of a high-ranking Russian military officer in Moscow, even as fighting continues. The suspect has allegedly admitted to murdering Yaroslav Moskalik in a car bomb attack on Friday. He further alleged that Ukraine’s security services had actively recruited him to carry out this assassination.
This is the first time that North Korea has publicly acknowledged that it sent troops. These new soldiers will help Russia kill Ukrainians as its illegal, brutal invasion continues. This backdrop only serves to add to the unprecedented levels of complexity and geopolitical tension.
As the war drags on, Ukraine has recognized that a permanent ceasefire or peace agreement will likely require territorial gives. Kyiv understands that land in Russia’s Kursk region offers the most powerful bargaining chip. This flexibility is a key piece in their ongoing battle shaping their negotiations to come.
These statements from Trump about Zelenskyy’s ability to negotiate have caused an uproar in Ukraine and resurfaced criticism from many of Ukraine’s allies. Critics warn that any deal that requires Ukraine to give up territory would threaten Ukraine’s independence and reward Russian aggression.
“Look, it was never bad. We had a little dispute, because I disagreed with something he said, and the cameras were rolling and that was OK with me.” – Donald Trump
The reality on the ground is still extremely bleak as Russia has pushed its offensive and Ukraine fights on several different fronts. The international community can only hope that the two sides are able to find a diplomatic resolution while they continue to battle each other on the warfront.