US accuses Russia of ‘dangerous and inexplicable escalation’ of war in Ukraine

The US has accused Russia of a “dangerous and inexplicable escalation” of its nearly four-year war in Ukraine at a time when the Trump administration is trying to advance negotiations towards peace.

US deputy ambassador to the United Nations Tammy Bruce singled out Russia’s launch of a nuclear-capable Oreshnik ballistic missile last week close to Ukraine’s border with Poland, a Nato ally.

She told an emergency meeting of the Security Council that the US deplores “the staggering number of casualties” in the conflict and condemns Russia’s intensifying attacks on energy and other infrastructure.

Ukraine called for the meeting after last Thursday’s overnight Russian bombardment with hundreds of drones and dozens of missiles, including the powerful, new hypersonic Oreshnik missile, which Moscow used for only the second time in what was a clear warning to Kyiv’s Nato allies.

The large-scale attack came days after Ukraine and its allies reported major progress towards agreeing on how to defend the country from further Moscow aggression if a US-led peace deal is struck.

The attack also coincided with a new chill in relations between Moscow and Washington after Russia condemned the US seizure of an oil tanker in the North Atlantic.

And it came as US president Donald Trump signalled he is on board with a hard-hitting sanctions package meant to economically cripple Russia.

Moscow has given no public signal it is willing to budge from its maximalist demands on Ukraine. And Russia’s UN ambassador on Monday blamed the diplomatic impasse on Ukraine.

Europe’s leaders condemned the attack using the Oreshnik as “escalatory and unacceptable”, and US envoy Ms Bruce was equally tough on Monday.

“At a moment of tremendous potential, due only to President Trump’s unparalleled commitment to peace around the world, both sides should be seeking ways to de-escalate,” she said.

“Yet Russia’s action risks expanding and intensifying the war.”

Ms Bruce reminded Russia that nearly a year ago it voted in favour of a Security Council resolution calling for an end to the conflict in Ukraine.

“It would be nice if Russia matched their words with deeds,” she said.

“In the spirit of that resolution, Russia, Ukraine and Europe must pursue peace seriously and bring this nightmare to an end.”

But Russia’s UN ambassador Vassily Nebenzia told the Security Council that until Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky “comes to his senses and agrees to realistic conditions for negotiations, we will continue solving the problem by military means”.

“He was warned long ago, with each passing day, each day which he squanders, the conditions for negotiations will only get worse for him,” Mr Nebenzia said.

“Similarly, each vile attack on Russian civilians will elicit a stiff response.”

Ukraine’s UN ambassador Andriy Melnyk countered that Russia is more vulnerable now than at any time since the start of the full-scale invasion in February 2022. Its economy is slowing and oil revenue is down.

“Russia wants to sell to this council and the whole UN family the impression that it is invincible, but this is another illusion,” he told the council.

“The carefully staged image of strength is nothing but smoke and mirrors, completely detached from reality.”