Amid Tensions: Russia and Ukraine Blame Each Other for Ongoing Strikes Post-US Envoy’s Departure from Moscow

Russia and Ukraine’s foreign ministers met recently at the Antalya Diplomacy Forum in Turkey, and once again, they traded accusations over a ceasefire deal aimed at pausing strikes on energy sites. The ongoing negotiations to end the three-year conflict are fraught with challenges.

A day before the diplomats spoke, U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff met with Russian President Vladimir Putin to discuss how to move toward peace. Meanwhile, Ukraine’s allies in Europe pledged billions in aid to support Kyiv in its fight against the Russian invasion.

Despite a tentative agreement for a 30-day ceasefire, both sides quickly contradicted each other after talks with U.S. officials in Saudi Arabia. They disagreed on when to halt strikes and accused each other of violating the terms.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov claimed Ukraine has been the aggressor, asserting that Russia has complied with the agreement. He stated that Moscow would share a list of alleged Ukrainian attacks with the U.S. and other international bodies. A Russian official claimed they had documented over 60 breaches of the agreement by Ukraine.

Conversely, Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha argued that Russia has launched almost 70 missiles and thousands of drones and bombs targeting civilians since the pause was agreed upon. He insisted that this demonstrates Russia’s true intentions regarding peace.

Currently, Russian forces have an upper hand in Ukraine. Kyiv has warned of a potential Russian spring offensive, raising concerns about the ongoing conflict’s trajectory. Ukraine supports a more comprehensive ceasefire proposal from the U.S., but Russia continues to impose stringent conditions, leading European governments to accuse Putin of not cooperating.

Trump recently commented on the situation, stating that "Russia has to get moving" toward ending the war. He described the conflict as “terrible and senseless,” calling for action to achieve peace.

In related news, Lavrov mentioned that a potential agreement regarding the safe navigation of commercial vessels in the Black Sea could not proceed until restrictions on Russian shipping access were lifted. This discussion is part of ongoing efforts, reminiscent of a 2022 agreement brokered by the U.N. and Turkey, which was called off by Russia.

In the air, Ukraine recently reported the loss of another F-16 fighter jet supplied by its Western allies, resulting in the death of 26-year-old pilot Pavlo Ivanov. This aircraft went down while defending against a Russian missile attack. Ukraine’s first F-16 was lost last August after it intercepted Russian threats. The exact number of aircraft received from allies like Denmark and the Netherlands remains undisclosed.

On the ground, Russian drone strikes tragically claimed the lives of at least two civilians in Ukraine’s southern Kherson region. The ongoing violence continues to deeply affect communities and highlights the human cost of this enduring conflict.

For continuous updates on the Ukraine war, you can follow the coverage at AP News.

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