Peace Initiatives Stall Amid Ongoing Conflict in Ukraine and Regional Tensions
Peace initiatives led by United States (US) President Donald Trump since his return to office in January appear to have stalled. Over a month has passed since Trump’s Alaska Summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin and a White House meeting involving Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and key European leaders, yet the war in Ukraine continues unabated.
In a recent update, Zelensky shared via a Telegram post that he met with Keith Kellogg, Trump’s special envoy, late Monday in New York. The discussion focused on potential cooperation agreements, including the manufacturing of drones and Ukraine’s acquisition of American weaponry, according to the Associated Press (AP).
European leaders have expressed support for Zelensky’s diplomatic efforts. However, the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza is expected to dominate discussions at the upcoming United Nations meeting. Some European nations also fear that the war in Ukraine could escalate further, citing what they perceive as Russian provocations.
At the request of Estonia, North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) allies are scheduled to hold formal consultations on Tuesday. This comes after the Baltic nation reported three Russian fighter jets entered its airspace without authorization last week, raising regional security concerns.
Meanwhile, the war that began on February 24, three years ago, continues to exact a devastating toll on Ukrainian civilians. According to the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), Ukrainian civilian casualties increased by 40 percent in the first eight months of 2025 compared to 2024. The report attributes the rise to intensified Russian long-range missile and drone strikes.
A UN Human Rights Office report released on Tuesday further highlighted the grim conditions faced by thousands of Ukrainian civilians detained by Russia in occupied territories. The report, cited by AP, stated:
“Russian authorities have subjected Ukrainian civilian detainees in occupied territory to torture and ill-treatment, including sexual violence, in a widespread and systematic manner.”
Recent attacks continue to claim lives on both sides. Russian aircraft launched five glide bombs on the southern Ukrainian city of Zaporizhzhia overnight, killing one man, according to regional head Ivan Fedorov. In the Odesa region, Russian ballistic missiles struck the town center of Tatarbunary, killing a woman, regional head Oleh Kiper confirmed Tuesday morning.
The Ukrainian Air Force reported a severe night of attacks, with Russian forces launching three Iskander ballistic missiles and 115 strike and decoy drones. Of these, 103 drones were successfully intercepted or jammed, while 12 drones and three missiles hit six locations within Ukraine.
In Moscow, Mayor Sergei Sobyanin reported that more than 40 Ukrainian drones were shot down as they approached the Russian capital between Monday evening and midday Tuesday. The drone attacks forced a temporary halt to flights in and out of Moscow’s Sheremetyevo Airport, causing significant delays and cancellations.
Additionally, the Russian Defence Ministry announced it intercepted 69 Ukrainian drones over various Russian regions and the annexed Crimean Peninsula on Tuesday.
As tensions escalate and violence persists, prospects for peace remain uncertain amid the overlapping regional conflicts and military escalations.
https://www.mid-day.com/news/world-news/article/russia-ukraine-war-zelensky-seeks-help-at-un-after-moscow-s-attack-leaves-two-dead-23595427