Articles in this Cluster
27-05-2025
Russia is intensifying its aerial attacks on Ukrainian civilians, killing at least 14 people over the weekend, in a deliberate strategy to create the illusion that it is winning the war, undermine Ukrainian morale, and pressure Kyiv's Western allies. Experts say the campaign is designed to make it seem like Russia has the upper hand, and to convince the West that supporting Ukraine is futile. The frequency and scale of these strikes have increased since US President Donald Trump's return to the White House, with five of Russia's biggest drone attacks launched since then. Trump's mixed signals on the conflict, including threatening to punish Russia with sanctions and suggesting he could walk away from the issue, have emboldened Putin, who knows that the only way to win the war is if Ukraine's Western allies stop supporting Kyiv. Despite Russia's air superiority, the situation on the ground remains stagnant, with neither side able to make significant gains, and Ukrainian civilians continuing to bear the brunt of the conflict, with at least 209 killed last month.
27-05-2025
The Kremlin has responded to US President Donald Trump's comments calling Vladimir Putin "absolutely crazy" following Russia's large-scale aerial assault on Ukraine, saying Trump is showing signs of "emotional overload". Russia had launched 367 drones and missiles at Ukraine, killing 13 people, prompting Trump to criticize Putin's actions. Meanwhile, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz announced that Ukraine's allies have removed range limits on supplied arms, allowing Ukraine to attack military positions in Russia with few exceptions.
27-05-2025
Russia and Ukraine have completed a massive prisoner swap, exchanging over 1,000 prisoners of war and civilian detainees each, as agreed upon in talks held in Turkey earlier this month. The swap was the largest since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed that 303 Ukrainian defenders were returned home. However, just hours before the exchange, Russia launched a massive drone and missile attack on Ukraine, killing at least 12 people and injuring dozens. The attack involved 367 drones and missiles, the largest single aerial attack of the war. US President Trump condemned the attack, calling it "needless killing" and warning of potential further sanctions on Russia. Zelenskyy urged Western partners to ramp up sanctions on Russia, saying that "without truly strong pressure on the Russian leadership, this brutality cannot be stopped."
27-05-2025
Former US President Trump criticized Russian President Putin, calling him "absolutely crazy" for escalating Russia's war on Ukraine with a massive drone and missile attack. Russia launched around 900 drones at Ukraine over the weekend, with 355 drones launched on Sunday night alone. Trump, who has been attempting to broker a peace agreement, expressed frustration with Putin's actions, saying they were "needlessly killing a lot of people." Ukrainian President Zelenskyy called for tighter international economic sanctions on Russia, while European leaders reacted to Trump's comments, with some seeing it as a shift in his stance on the war. Meanwhile, Russia and Ukraine completed a prisoner swap, exchanging a total of 1,000 prisoners of war and civilian detainees each.
27-05-2025
President Donald Trump's recent criticism of Russian President Vladimir Putin over the war in Ukraine has been met with skepticism, as his past statements and actions have not led to meaningful consequences for Russia. The Kremlin has intensified its drone attacks on Ukrainian civilians, which may be a test of Trump's resolve. Trump has two main options to respond: imposing new sanctions on Russia or providing more military aid to Ukraine, both of which would be a departure from his previous stance. However, Trump's credibility is on the line after his predictions of ending the war quickly were proven wrong, and he may be pushed to take tougher action. European allies are watching closely, with some sensing a potential shift in Trump's approach after recent conversations with him. Nevertheless, it remains uncertain whether Trump will follow through on his rhetoric, as the Kremlin believes he is unlikely to take decisive action.
27-05-2025
Russia and Ukraine exchanged over 300 prisoners on Sunday, marking the third and final part of a major swap, just hours after Moscow launched a massive aerial assault on Ukraine, killing at least 12 people. The exchange was agreed upon during talks in Istanbul earlier this month, where both sides agreed to swap 1,000 prisoners of war and civilian detainees each. The aerial assault involved 69 missiles and 298 drones, making it the largest single attack of the war. Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed that 303 Ukrainian defenders were returned home, including members of the Armed Forces, National Guard, and other services.
27-05-2025
Russian forces launched a massive barrage of 367 drones and missiles at Ukrainian cities, killing at least 12 people and injuring dozens more. The attack, which included 298 drones and 69 missiles, targeted multiple cities, including Kyiv, Kharkiv, and Mykolaiv. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called for the US to speak out against the attack, saying "the silence of America... only encourages Putin." The assault comes as Ukraine and Russia prepare for a prisoner swap, and Ukraine's European allies push for a 30-day ceasefire.
27-05-2025
US President Donald Trump has criticized Russian President Vladimir Putin after Russia launched its largest aerial bombardment of Ukraine since the start of the war, killing 12 people and injuring dozens. Trump said he was "not happy" with Putin's actions and considered imposing more sanctions on Russia. The attack involved 355 drones and nine cruise missiles, with Ukraine's air force saying it shot down hundreds of drones but needs more air defense systems. Trump, who has previously expressed optimism about a potential peace deal, also criticized Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, saying his comments were causing problems. The Kremlin responded by accusing Trump of "emotional overload" and stating that Putin's decisions were necessary for Russia's security.
27-05-2025
Western allies have lifted range restrictions for weapons supplied to Ukraine, according to Germany's Chancellor Friedrich Merz. Previously, long-range missiles were only allowed to be used against Russian targets in occupied Ukrainian territory, but now Ukraine can defend itself by attacking military positions in Russia. The move is expected to make a "decisive difference in Ukraine's warfare".
27-05-2025
President Trump's decision to normalize US relations with Syria is a high-risk, high-reward gamble aimed at containing Iranian influence in the region. By lifting decades-old sanctions, Trump hopes to encourage Syria to establish diplomatic ties with Israel and suppress extremist groups. However, the new Syrian government, led by President Ahmed al-Sharaa, is fragile and faces significant challenges, including internal conflict and the risk of Iranian exploitation. Iran expert Behnam Ben Taleblu warns that if the US fails to press Damascus to address the concerns of various groups across the country, Tehran may exploit vulnerable populations and undermine regional stability.
27-05-2025
The Syrian government has agreed to help the US locate and return Americans who went missing in the country during its civil war, US Special Envoy to Syria Thomas Barrack said. The announcement comes after Barrack met with Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa and Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shaibani in Turkey. The move is seen as a sign of improving bilateral ties between the two countries, following the US granting Syria exemptions from sanctions and the ousting of former President Bashar al-Assad. The US is seeking to bring home American citizens who went missing or were killed in Syria, including Austin Tice, Majd Kamalmaz, and Kayla Mueller, among others.
