Russia’s missile strikes across Ukraine, claiming at least 38 lives
Among the civilian locations hit was the Okhmatdyt Children’s Hospital in Kyiv, where at least two people were killed, according to Ukrainian authorities.
Russia says it targeted military and industrial bases and blamed Ukraine’s missile defence for the damage to the civilian centres
Attack came on the eve of a North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) summit in Washington, where member-countries are expected to take decisions on long-term commitment for Ukraine, including a €40 billion annual military aid.
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was in Warsaw where he signed a new security pact with Poland, which empowers the NATO member-country to shoot down Russian missiles and drones in the Ukrainian airspace.
Russia’s attack could be the Kremlin’s way of messaging NATO and Poland, but the strikes on civilian centres only expose the callousness of Russia’s war leaders.
Russia has made incremental territorial gains in recent months.
Its troops have advanced in the Kharkiv Oblast, taking several villages.
But the absence of dramatic gains, even in the face of Ukraine’s weakness, has raised questions about Russia’s capabilities.
Ukraine may be struggling to hold the frontline but it has taken the drone war to the Black Sea and Russia’s mainland.
It has incapacitated Russian ships, repeatedly targeted Russia’s energy depots using drones and struck Russia’s border regions causing civilian and military casualties.
Two and a half years after the war began, no side is seen capable of finding a military solution.
For Ukraine, pushing Russian troops out of the territories they have captured looks practically impossible.
Russia should also realise that its aggression has rejuvenated NATO, its sworn enemy, that has expanded since the war began and promised Kyiv long-term assistance.
A practical path ahead is to bring both sides to the table.
China’s President Xi Jinping said that world powers should help them hold talks.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in Moscow, also expressed India’s support for dialogue.
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