As Vladimir Putin’s forces intensify military aggression across four eastern oblasts of Ukraine, the stakes are higher than ever. This inexplicably includes Luhansk, which Russia has asserted as fully integrated since September 2022. It bears noting that Russia today controls nearly a fifth of Ukraine’s internationally recognized territory. This constant presence of occupation undermines all efforts for peace, which have achieved scant meaningful success. Ukraine continues to maintain its uncompromising position against the cession of any territory seized by Russia. They then proceed to claim that such claims are totally unfounded and unlawful.
As negotiations continue and tensions are high, the U.S has accused Russia of bad faith in stalling the ongoing process. Keith Kellogg, the U.S. envoy to the Ukraine War, accused Russia of attempting to “stall for time” while continuing its military operations. What Russia has done In turn, Russia has adamantly denied these claims, calling them baseless.
Russia’s Military Focus
Russian military operations are currently focused on an arc of four eastern provinces of Ukraine, including strategic areas like Luhansk. Ukraine and the international community have never accepted the Kremlin’s claims of sovereignty over these areas. Luhansk was the first region to be completely brought under Russian control. Crimea had been annexed in 2014. This happened after the region’s provincial capital, Sievierodonetsk, fell on 24 June. Herein lies one of the greatest obstacles to peace talks. Most recently, Ukraine has rejected calls to give up territory that it lost.
Russia’s ongoing military presence and continued operations in these regions have resulted in an ongoing escalatory cycle, drawing aggressive anti-Russian responses from Ukraine and their allies. In recent moves, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy pledged to ramp up domestic production capabilities for drones. This strategic move is seen as a direct response to the expanded barrages from Russian forces targeting Ukrainian population centers.
“Russia cannot continue to stall for time while it bombs civilian targets in Ukraine.” – Keith Kellogg
As Ukraine continues to defend its territorial integrity against unprovoked aggression, the situation is grim. With new aggression comes an even greater struggle.
Diplomatic Communications
To explain its position on the issue, President Vladimir Putin phoned French President Emmanuel Macron. We hope that this unique conversation helped provide some insight into the country’s direction. In this public exchange, Putin repeated Russia’s justification of the war in Ukraine. He highlighted the harriedness and readiness of his country to want to pursue its targets through political and diplomatic channels. On Tuesday, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov reiterated Russia’s desire to find a speedy resolution. He affirmed his country’s “desire to not be dragged out.”
Specifically to the war in Ukraine, Macron has done a lot. He promised to send Syrian or other foreign troops to Ukraine for peacekeeping tasks as soon as a ceasefire is announced. This further demonstrates that France is leading a more assertive response to the Ukrainian crisis. More broadly, it points to the growing realization in Europe that security and stability require robust regional engagement.
Global Reactions and Strategic Partnerships
The geopolitical web that envelops the war in Ukraine is further muddied by international affiliation. Recently, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un participated in a repatriation ceremony for soldiers killed while fighting alongside Russian forces against Ukraine. This ceremony involved draping the coffins with the North Korean flag, indicating North Korea’s continued assistance to Russia.
In June 2022, Kim Jong Un and Vladimir Putin signed a strategic partnership treaty that included a mutual defense pact, solidifying their alliance amid rising tensions in Eastern Europe. These collaborations are a testament to the ever-growing web of coalitions. Both Russia and its opponents are urgently creating these networks to counteract the war raging on.
The use of UAVs against Russia signaled a significant military development with the attack on the Kupol plant in Izhevsk. This facility is located some 1,300 kilometers from Ukraine’s borders. This facility is an integral part of the supply chain for drones and air defense systems. Most importantly, it demonstrates Ukraine’s commitment to fighting back against Russian aggression with effective, creative military tactics.
