Level of Russian Bombardment of Ukraine Proves that Putin is not Interested in Peace

The latest Russian war against Ukraine is divided into reality and fantasy, woefully delaying a serious discussion of peace and an end to this bloody war.

Despite President Zelenskyy’s better efforts to paint a realistic picture of what Russia is doing to his Ukraine and nation, Russia’s Vladimir Putin abetted by America’s Donald Trump are turning reality into a macabre mélange of fabrications that are nowhere near authenticity.

Trump’s intrusion into peacemaking is based on trusting his close friend Putin and exonerating Russia of all crimes against Ukraine, twisting the truth, calling Zelenskyy a dictator, and putting the onus of peace on the victim.

Recently, Russia has undertaken the following attacks against Ukrainian civilian targets while the White House insists that it is up to Ukraine to return to the negotiating table. At least 25 people have died in Ukraine in the latest wave of Russian strikes, Ukrainian officials say, as the killings show no signs of easing.

・On the evening of March 7 one attack on Donetsk Region killed least 11 people and wounded 40, including six children, local officials said. Homes and infrastructure were hit in other regions, including Kharkiv and Odesa.

・On the night of March 7-8, the Russians attacked a civilian company in Bohodukhiv, Kharkiv Oblast, with a drone, killing three people and injuring seven others.

・On the evening of March 7, the Russians again launched a large-scale drone strike on Odesa, and fires broke out in the city.

・On Friday, March 7, Russia carried out another large-scale missile and drone strike on Ukraine, targeting energy and gas infrastructure in various regions. Strikes have been reported in Kharkiv and the Ternopil, Odesa, and Chernihiv regions, hitting critical facilities. Civilians have been affected.

Russian attacks have intensified in recent days, as the US paused military aid and intelligence-sharing with Kyiv, leaving it blind. It followed last week's Oval Office clash between President Donald Trump and Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelensky.

After the latest Russian strikes, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk observed: “This is what happens when someone appeases barbarians. More bombs, more aggression, more victims.”

Kaja Kallas, high representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, has said that Russia’s recent missile strikes on Ukraine demonstrate Putin's lack of desire for peace. “Once again, Putin shows he has no interest in peace. We must step up our military support – otherwise, even more Ukrainian civilians will pay the highest price,” Kallas, an Estonian, said. 

Estonia, a former captive nation of Russian subjugation, is a staunch supporter along with Lithuania and Latvia of unrestrained support for Ukraine. Indeed, the three Baltic countries openly admit that they fear that Russia’s imperialistic appetite has not been slaked, and they could be next.

President Trump has not shown any compassion whatsoever for Ukraine, its nation and just aspirations. In the wake of the latest bombings of Ukraine, he said that it is easier for him to deal with Russia on achieving peace in Ukraine because, according to him, Russia “has all the cards.” This sounds as if Trump believes that Russia is winning so it would be easier to help it finally defeat Ukraine.

“Right now they (Russia) are bombing the hell out of Ukraine. I’m finding it more difficult, frankly, to deal with Ukraine. But they (Russia) have all the cards,” Trump said at a press conference in Washington on Friday.

Speaking about the shelling of Ukraine by Russia, he said Putin “is doing what anyone else would do” in a war situation. Criminals would take advantage of the open door to rob a bank and likewise Putin is taking advantage of his battlefield reward. 

This heartless attitude permeates the senior staff at the White House and State Department. Ukraine was given “fair warning” by the White House before Trump this week ordered a pause on U.S. military assistance and intelligence sharing with Kyiv, a senior administration official said last week. That’s like passively warning women not to walk along a dark street and if they do and they’re raped, well that’s their fault.

The Republican administration announced the pauses this week after Trump and Zelenskyy’s Oval Office meeting devolved into a shouting match, with the US president and Vice President JD Vance excoriating the Ukrainian leader for being incorrectly dressed and insufficiently grateful for the tens of billions of dollars in US assistance sent to Ukraine since Russia invaded three years ago.

Retired Lt. Gen. Keith Kellogg, Trump’s special envoy to Ukraine and Russia, said the pause is already having an impact on Kyiv, adding that the Ukrainians “brought it on themselves.”

“The best way I can describe it is sort of like hitting a mule with a two-by-four across the nose,” Kellogg said at an event Thursday at the Council on Foreign Relations. “You got their attention.”

Zelenskyy, who has always expressed his desire for peace, noted that “the first steps” toward real peace must include forcing the sole source of this war, Russia, to stop such attacks against life.

“And this is something that can be effectively monitored. Silence in the skies – banning the use of missiles, long-range drones, and aerial bombs. And silence at sea – a real guarantee of normal navigation. Ukraine is ready to pursue the path to peace, and it is Ukraine that strives for peace from the very first second of this war. The task is to force Russia to stop the war,” Zelenskyy stressed.

Current developments indicate that the latest iteration of Russia’s war has expanded to include Ukrainians singlehandedly defending their land and nation against Russia and its allies, North Korea, Iran and – the United States of America.

The bloody irony, cynicism and betrayal!