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The Citizen
4 days ago
- Politics
- The Citizen
Russia signals severe retaliation after Ukraine's strikes
Despite promising an unconditional ceasefire, Ukraine launched major drone strikes on Russia. Peace efforts falter, and the nuclear threat becomes harder to ignore. A man stands in a damaged building following an air-attack in Kharkiv on June 4, 2025, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine. (Photo by SERGEY BOBOK / AFP) The world is on the brink of a nuclear disaster once more because the proponents of the Russian-Ukrainian war continue to act as though they are discussing peace while fighting. Sunday's massive drone attacks by Ukrainian forces on Russian strategic aviation facilities destroyed a large number of its jet bombers, as well as railway lines and bridges in the Bryansk and Kursk regions. The attacks that killed at least eight people, including children, could trigger massive retaliation by Russia soon. Some in Moscow even predict a nuclear attack, or using something more than just a single ballistic missile. These developments show nobody is committed to a ceasefire. Clearly, when Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky visited South Africa on 24 April, and promised an 'unconditional ceasefire with Russia' he did not mean it. He knew his forces were preparing to launch a rain of first person view drones on Russia. With Zelensky's unconditional ceasefire promise unfulfilled, he sold President Cyril Ramaphosa a dummy. ALSO READ: Ukraine shows it's far from finished with Russian warplanes bombing Nobody expected the talks between Moscow and Kyiv in Istanbul, Türkiye, on Monday to proceed at all, following the Ukraine attacks. The meeting was bound to collapse. Ukrainian negotiators presented to their Russian counterparts a memorandum on how they felt the conflict should be settled, while rejecting most of Moscow's proposals. Kyiv proposed a declaration of a complete ceasefire for 30 days with the possibility of extension. It required that the US and other countries ensure control of the ceasefire process. In addition, Ukraine wants to have the 'all for all' exchange of prisoners with Russia. Ukraine also demanded direct talks between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Zelensky. Russia's position was summed up by Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, who said Moscow intends to discuss with Ukraine its neutral, non-aligned, non-nuclear status and a ban on discrimination against the Russian language in Ukraine. But experts say Russia is not satisfied with the Ukrainian conditions contained in their memorandum. 'Vladimir Zelensky is seeking a truce in order to use it as a respite and then resume hostilities,' one expert said. ALSO READ: Kremlin denies dragging out Ukraine peace talks It was good to see that delegations from both sides comprised top officials, including Ukraine's defence minister, Russia's deputy defence ministers and senior intelligence chiefs. The collapse of the talks was imminent after the drone attacks on Russia. Political observers consider Ukraine's 'timed' actions as an attempt by Kyiv to disrupt the Türkiye meeting. The head of the research centre, Sigma Insight Turkey, Ahmet Dogan, said Ukraine's attacks have reduced the likelihood of a constructive dialogue at the talks in Istanbul. 'Moscow is looking not only for a ceasefire, but also for a final peace and Ukraine, with the support of its European allies, is constantly provoking it. I am not sure the consultations will lead to anything constructive,' the expert said. The Russian delegation vowed that Moscow's response to 'terrorist attacks will be powerful' because Ukraine violated the clause of the Russian nuclear doctrine. 'Accordingly, now Russia has a free hand to deliver harsh retaliatory strikes,' the Russians said. Will Russia unleash a nuclear war? I hope not. But those who believe that Moscow will leave everything that happened unanswered are mistaken. Retribution will definitely follow and this may not be just hot air. NOW READ: Zelensky says won't play Putin's 'games' with short truce
Toronto Sun
03-05-2025
- Politics
- Toronto Sun
Russian drone attack wounds 47 in Ukraine's second city of Kharkiv
Published May 03, 2025 • 4 minute read A police expert examines fragments after a drone strike on Kharkiv on May 3, 2025, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Photo by SERGEY BOBOK / AFP via Getty Images KYIV, Ukraine — A Russian drone strike on Kharkiv, Ukraine's second-largest city, wounded 47 people, officials said, and prompted another appeal from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for more decisive support from the country's allies. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov said drones hit 12 locations across the city late Friday. Residential buildings, civilian infrastructure and vehicles were damaged in the assault, according to Kharkiv regional Gov. Oleh Syniehubov. The Kharkiv Prosecutor's Office said Saturday that Russian forces used drones with thermobaric warheads. In a statement on Telegram, it said thermobaric weapons create a powerful blast wave and a hot cloud of smoke, causing large-scale destruction. The prosecutor said its use may indicate a deliberate violation of international humanitarian law. 'While the world hesitates with decisions, nearly every night in Ukraine turns into a nightmare, costing lives. Ukraine needs strengthened air defence. Strong and real decisions are needed from our partners — the United States, Europe, all our partners who seek peace,' Zelenskyy wrote on X in the early hours of Saturday. Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Russia fired a total of 183 exploding drones and decoys overnight, Ukraine's air force said. Of those, 77 were intercepted and a further 73 lost, likely having been electronically jammed. Russia also launched two ballistic missiles. Meanwhile, Russia's Defence Ministry said its air defences shot down 170 Ukrainian drones overnight. The ministry said eight cruise missiles and three guided missiles were also intercepted. In southern Russia, five people, including two children, were injured in a drone strike on the Black Sea port city of Novorossiysk overnight, according to Mayor Andrey Kravchenko. Zelenskyy favours a 30-day ceasefire proposed by U.S. The latest wave of attacks comes after the U.S. and Ukraine on Wednesday signed an agreement granting American access to Ukraine's vast mineral resources. It finalizes a deal months in the making that could enable continued military aid to Kyiv amid concerns that President Donald Trump might scale back support in ongoing peace negotiations with Russia. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Speaking to journalists in Kyiv on Friday, Zelenskyy said Ukraine is ready for a ceasefire but emphasized that it has to last for 30 days, as was initially proposed by the U.S. He said the proposed ceasefire could start on any date, offering time for meaningful steps toward ending the war. 'Let's be honest — you can't agree on anything serious in three, five, or seven days,' he said. Zelenskyy said that Moscow's announcement of a unilateral 72-hour ceasefire next week in Ukraine to mark Victory Day in World War II is merely an attempt to create a 'soft atmosphere' ahead of Russia's annual celebrations. 'It looks unserious,' he said, 'so that Putin's guests on Red Square feel comfortable and safe.' Ukraine won't guarantee safety for visitors to Russia He said that Ukraine cannot provide security assurances to foreign officials planning to visit Russia around May 9, warning that Moscow could stage provocations and later attempt to blame Ukraine. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Zelenskyy said that some governments had approached Kyiv seeking safety reassurance while their delegations are in Russia. 'Our position is very simple: we cannot take responsibility for what happens on the territory of the Russian Federation,' he said. 'They are the ones providing your security, and we will not be offering any guarantees.' Zelenskyy said he had instructed Ukraine's Foreign Ministry to advise against visiting Russia during this period. 'We must tell those who approach us: we do not recommend visiting the Russian Federation from a security standpoint. And if you choose to do so, don't ask us — it's your personal decision.' The Ukrainian leader reiterated that Kyiv's military actions will remain 'mirror-like,' responding to Russia's moves. He acknowledged that implementing a complete front-line ceasefire without robust international monitoring remains nearly impossible, but emphasized that the 30-day window offers a credible start. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. He confirmed ongoing efforts to convene the next round of negotiations with the U.S. He also expressed hope that it could happen in Ukraine, saying it was a 'positive sign' that such a gathering is under discussion despite recent personnel changes in Washington. Russia wants Ukraine to 'de-escalate' In response to Zelenskyy's comments, which were made public on Saturday, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said that he had 'unequivocally threatened the world leaders who are planning to arrive in Moscow on May 9.' Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Saturday that Russia expects Kyiv to take steps to de-escalate before Victory Day. 'We will, of course, expect (from) Kyiv not ambiguous, but final statements, and most importantly, actions aimed at de-escalating the conflict during the holidays,' Peskov told journalists. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Russia's ceasefire proposals, he said, were meant to 'test Kyiv's readiness to find ways for long-term sustainable peace between Russia and Ukraine.' In response to a question about Britain's potential role in peace negotiations, Peskov said that the U.K. could not take on a mediating role. 'A mediator can only be someone who has an equal distance in relation to the parties to the conflict. London is not and cannot be one,' he said. He also said the Kremlin has no information about a potential visit by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio to Moscow on May 9. — Morton reported from London. Associated Press writer Dmytro Zhyhinas contributed to this report.
