At a time when the Trump administration is attempting to move peace talks forward, the United States has accused Russia of a "dangerous and inexplicable escalation" of its almost four year conflict in Ukraine.
The launch of a nuclear capable Oreshnik ballistic missile by Russia last week near Ukraine's border with Poland, a NATO ally, was singled out by US deputy ambassador to the UN Tammy Bruce on Monday.
The United States laments "the staggering number of casualties" in the conflict and denounces Russia's escalating strikes on electricity and other infrastructure, she said at a Security Council emergency meeting.
Following last Thursday's midnight Russian bombardment with hundreds of drones and dozens of missiles, including the potent, new hypersonic Oreshnik missile, which Moscow launched for just the second time as a clear warning to Kyiv's NATO partners, Ukraine summoned the conference.
The massive assault occurred only days after Ukraine and its allies announced significant progress toward reaching a consensus on how to protect the nation from more Moscow aggression in the event that a peace agreement led by the United States is reached.
Following Russia's condemnation of the US seizure of an oil tanker in the North Atlantic, ties between Washington and Moscow deteriorated further at the time of the attack.
Additionally, it coincided with US President Donald Trump indicating his support for a harsh set of sanctions intended to severely impair Russia's economy.
Moscow has not publicly indicated that it is prepared to change its maximalist demands on Ukraine. Additionally, Russia's envoy to the UN on Monday criticized Ukraine for the diplomatic deadlock.
The Oreshnik attack was denounced by European leaders as "escalatory and unacceptable," and US envoy Bruce was equally stern on Monday.
"At a moment of tremendous potential, due only to President Trump's unparalleled commitment to peace around the world, both sides should be seeking ways to de escalate," she stated. "Yet Russia's action risks expanding and intensifying the war."
Bruce reminded Russia that it supported a Security Council resolution advocating for an end to the war in Ukraine about a year ago. "It would be nice if Russia matched their words with deeds," she stated.
"In the spirit of that resolution, Russia, Ukraine and Europe must pursue peace seriously and bring this nightmare to an end." However, until Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy "comes to his senses and agrees to realistic conditions for negotiations, we will continue solving the problem by military means," Russian UN Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia said the Security Council.
"He was warned long ago, with each passing day, each day which he squanders, the conditions for negotiations will only get worse for him," Nebenzia stated. "Similarly, each vile attack on Russian civilians will elicit a stiff response."
Andriy Melnyk, the ambassador of Ukraine to the UN, retorted that Russia is now more vulnerable than it has been since the full-scale assault began in February 2022.
Its oil revenue is declining and its economy is faltering. "Russia wants to sell to this council and the whole UN family the impression that it is invincible, but this is another illusion," he stated to the assembly. "The carefully staged image of strength is nothing but smoke and mirrors, completely detached from reality."
