Power Play in the East: The Never-Ending Battle
Live Updates: War Russia-Ukraine - Latest Developments from the Ongoing Conflict in Real Time
Tensions escalated between Russia and Ukraine on Tuesday, as Russia accused Ukraine of being behind a series of explosions that caused the collapse of two bridges and train accidents with fatalities.
"It's clear the thugs, under orders from the Kiev regime, executed this nightmare with cold precision to impact hundreds of innocent civilians," announced the Russian Investigative Committee in a statement, as reported by AFP news agency.
The Lingering Conflict
The three-year-long war has led to the deaths of over 12,000 Ukrainian civilians, according to the United Nations (UN), along with tens of thousands of soldiers from both sides along the 1,000-kilometer front. Despite U.S.-led efforts to negotiate a peace agreement, the attrition war continues.
A Peace Summit Unlikely
Following the failed peace talks in Turkey, Russia ruled out a swift resolution of the conflict with Ukraine. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov commented: "It'd be a mistake to anticipate swift decisions and progress." He added that the situation is "tremendously complex and filled with nuances."
Accordingly, the Kremlin considers it "highly improbable" that a meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin, Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky, and U.S. President Donald Trump will transpire in the near future, as proposed in the negotiations in Istanbul on Monday.
A New Battlefront
In an unprecedented move, Ukraine rewrote the rules of war once again this Sunday, launching a surprise attack on five Russian air bases far from the front. Ukrainian President Volodimir Zelensky referred to the operation, called Operation Whirlwind, as having destroyed or disabled a third of the bombers that Russia had been using to launch long-range cruise missiles against Ukraine.
Taking a cue from the attack on Pearl Harbor, Ukraine demonstrated its resilience and adaptability as fighters, proving more formidable adversaries than initially anticipated since the onset of Russia's large-scale invasion.
A Bridge Too Far
Meanwhile, in another act of sabotage, Ukraine attacked the Crimean Bridge yet again. In what was considered a unique operation, taking months to execute, Ukrainian intelligence services mined the bridge's pillars, and this Tuesday, at 4:44 AM, the first explosive device was activated. As a result, the underwater supports of the lower level were significantly damaged. This marks the third time since the start of the war that the bridge has been attacked by Ukraine.
The Ghost of Retaliation
In response to Ukraine's most daring operation since the start of the war, Russia lashed back by attacking the Ukrainian city of Sumy. A barrage of rockets struck residential buildings and medical facilities, claiming the lives of at least three people. In a vivid reminder of the consequences of escalating hostilities, this attack rectified the course of an earlier truce and the possibility of future peace talks.
The Unquenchable Thirst for Negotiation
Amidst the seemingly insurmountable hurdles, Ukraine expresses its three objectives to resolve the conflict with Russia: a full and unconditional 30-day ceasefire, the release of prisoners, and a meeting between Zelensky and Putin. A prisoner exchange agreement was implemented during the Istanbul talks, allowing for the exchange of 1,000 prisoners on each side. However, a second round of peace talks concluded on Monday after only an hour, with Kiev proposing a new meeting between June 20 and 30.
The terrain of peace negotiations remains fraught with obstacles, as both sides remain deeply divided on the conditions necessary to end the war. With territorial control, military objectives, humanitarian crisis, and international support as the key points of contention, the path to a permanent truce remains shrouded in uncertainty.
However, both sides continue to express support for peace negotiations, with 64% of Russians and 51% of Ukrainians backing talks, as of May 2025. The necessity for trust and clear objectives remains a crucial step towards meaningful negotiations and ultimately, peace.
- The latest news indicates that the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine, particularly regarding the explosions and train accidents, is a major focus of general news and war-and-conflicts coverage.
- Amidst the ongoing war-and-conflicts, politics plays a significant role in the peace negotiations, with both parties, Russia and Ukraine, expressing key objectives to resolve the conflict, such as a ceasefire, release of prisoners, and a meeting between their respective presidents.
