Anything but peace. The truce is moving away for the environment, and the war between Russia and Ukraine go back to hit one of its symbols: Crimean bridge. In the early hours of Tuesday morning, Ukrainian intelligence launched a New attack on Kerch viaduct, already targeted in 2022 and 2023. This time a underwater explosive charge 1.100 kilograms, placed at the base of the pylons: the explosion, which occurred at 4:44, damaged the structure that connects Russia to the peninsula annexed in 2014.
According to the SBU (Ukrainian Security Service), theoperation has been planned for months and conducted without causing civilian casualties. This is yet another affront to Russian security apparatus, already put in difficulty in recent days by a drone operation against air bases in Siberia on Russian territory. Russian sources, in reverse, they downplay the incident: traffic was suspended for about three hours and then restored. The pro-Kremlin Telegram channel Rybar spoke of an attack with underwater drones contained thanks to defensive barriers. But the bridge, in addition to representing a strategic infrastructure, remains above all a target with a strong symbolic value. The new attack risks ifurther stiffen the conflict pushing away a possible meeting between Zelensky and Putin.
Peace talks stalled: Putin-Zelensky summit unlikely
The Ukrainian operation comes after the Istanbul talks between Russian and Ukrainian delegations yesterday ended with nothing done. Kiev proposed a one month ceasefire and a direct summit between Volodymyr Zelensky and Vladimir Putin, with possible mediation by US President Donald Trump. Moscow has rejected any overtures, offering only a temporary 2-3 day respite in some areas of the front.
The single point of agreement it concerns him exchange of bodies: about six thousand for each side. A new meeting is expected by the end of June, but the Kremlin has already scaled down expectations. "A Putin-Zelensky-Trump summit is unlikely in the near future“, said the spokesman Dmitry Peskov. Strong criticism comes from Brussels, which has defined the Russian position as “unacceptable” and reiterated that Moscow “does not negotiate in good faith”. A true peace today seems further away than ever.
Pressure on Trump and NATO, but the war remains on the field
Il conflict remains on even away from the negotiating table. The Ukrainian chief of staff, Andriy Yermak, is expected in Washington in the coming days to ask for new sanctions against Moscow. Zelensky urged the Trump administration to be more decisive, especially in light of the role that Turkey would like to entrust him as a mediator.
Meanwhile the attacks continue: Russian strikes hit residential buildings in Kharkiv and emergency posts in Zaporizhzhia. In Sumy, a shelling caused three civilian deaths. Kiev is also stepping up its pressure: in addition to the Kerch Bridge, Ukrainian drones have targeted air bases and military depots in western Russia.
Amid diplomatic deadlock and military escalation, Kiev looks ahead to next NATO summit of The Hague (June 24-25) as a crucial step. Ukraine has been officially invited and Zelensky aims to strengthen Western support, also in view of new measures against Russia. Yermak will be in the United States also to prepare this meeting. The goal is to obtain a clearer commitment from allies.
Russia-Ukraine Agreement? No Common Ground, Only Impossible Conditions
La The distance between Moscow and Kiev remains abysmal. Russia demands Ukrainian withdrawal from occupied territories, an end to martial law and a halt to Western military aid. Ukraine instead demands full control of its borders and the return of 339 deported children.
“Moscow just wants to buy time, pretending to negotiate,” declared Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustam Umerov. And if the Kerch bridge is shaking under Ukrainian fire, even the possibility of a face-to-face meeting between Putin and Zelensky now seems increasingly distant.
