UNITED NATIONS (AP) 鈥� The United States accused Russia on Monday of a 鈥渄angerous and inexplicable escalation鈥� of its nearly in Ukraine at a time when the Trump administration is trying to advance negotiations toward peace.
U.S. deputy ambassador to the United Nations Tammy Bruce singled out Russia鈥檚 launch of a nuclear-capable Oreshnik ballistic missile last week close to Ukraine鈥檚 border with Poland, a NATO ally.
She told an emergency meeting of the Security Council that the United States deplores 鈥渢he staggering number of casualties鈥� in the conflict and condemns Russia鈥檚 intensifying attacks on energy and other infrastructure.
Ukraine called for the meeting after last Thursday鈥檚 overnight Russian bombardment with hundreds of drones and dozens of missiles, including the powerful, , which Moscow used for only the second time in what was a clear warning to Kyiv鈥檚 NATO allies.
The large-scale attack came days after Ukraine and its allies toward agreeing on how to defend the country from further Moscow aggression if a U.S.-led peace deal is struck.
The attack also coincided with after Russia condemned the U.S. seizure of an oil tanker in the North Atlantic. And it came as U.S. President Donald Trump with a hard-hitting sanctions package meant to economically cripple Russia.
Moscow has given no public signal it is willing to budge from its maximalist demands on Ukraine. And Russia’s U.N. ambassador on Monday blamed the diplomatic impasse on Ukraine.
Europe鈥檚 leaders condemned the attack using the Oreshnik as 鈥渆scalatory and unacceptable,鈥� and U.S. envoy Bruce was equally tough on Monday.
鈥淎t a moment of tremendous potential, due only to President Trump鈥檚 unparalleled commitment to peace around the world, both sides should be seeking ways to de-escalate,鈥� she said. 鈥淵et Russia鈥檚 action risks expanding and intensifying the war.鈥�
Bruce reminded Russia that nearly a year ago it voted in favor of a Security Council resolution calling for an end to the conflict in Ukraine.
鈥淚t would be nice if Russia matched their words with deeds,鈥� she said. 鈥淚n the spirit of that resolution, Russia, Ukraine and Europe must pursue peace seriously and bring this nightmare to an end.鈥�
But Russia鈥檚 U.N. Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia told the Security Council that until Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy 鈥渃omes to his senses and agrees to realistic conditions for negotiations, we will continue .鈥�
鈥淗e was warned long ago, with each passing day, each day which he squanders, the conditions for negotiations will only get worse for him,鈥� Nebenzia said. 鈥淪imilarly, each vile attack on Russian civilians will elicit a stiff response.鈥�
Ukraine鈥檚 U.N. Ambassador Andriy Melnyk countered that Russia is more vulnerable now than at any time since the start of the full-scale invasion in February 2022. Its and oil revenue is down.
鈥淩ussia wants to sell to this council and the whole U.N. family the impression that it is invincible, but this is another illusion,鈥� he told the council. 鈥淭he carefully staged image of strength is nothing but smoke and mirrors, completely detached from reality.鈥�
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