Russia Intensifies Attacks on Ukraine Despite Peace Pledge
Despite public rhetoric suggesting a willingness to end the war, new data reveals that Russia has significantly escalated its attacks on Ukraine in the wake of US-led peace talks.
According to The Telegraph, the number of Russian drone strikes surged by over 50% following the start of negotiations on February 18. Experts argue that this dramatic increase is a calculated attempt by the Kremlin to pressure Kyiv into concessions and secure territorial gains before any potential ceasefire.
The data shows that Russian drone strikes on Ukraine dramatically increased in the 30 days after US-led peace talks began on February 18, jumping from 3,148 to 4,776. This resulted in an average daily increase in drone strikes from 101 to 154 post-talks.
Notably, attacks intensified on days of diplomatic friction between the US and Ukraine, following the dispute between Presidents Trump and Zelenskyy in the White House, a pause in US intelligence sharing, and a halt in military aid. For example, on February 28, after the US president criticized Ukraine for a perceived lack of gratitude, Russia launched 208 drones—up from 166 the day before.
On the eve of peace talks between US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, Russia launched 176 drones, hitting civilian areas in Dolynska and Odessa, injuring several people, including children. That same day, Ukraine struck oil pipelines in southern Russia—an escalation that highlights the fragility of the talks and, according to experts, plays to Russia’s advantage amid confusion over the ceasefire.
The most significant outcome of the Saudi Arabia talks was an agreement between the United States, Ukraine, and Russia on a truce in the Black Sea and a ban on energy infrastructure strikes.
However, according to Andriy Yermak, Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, there is currently no clear mechanism for monitoring and enforcing compliance with the ceasefire at sea or for halting attacks on the energy sector. Ukraine records all violations by the Russian side and passes the information to its partners.
As The Gaze previously reported, during a meeting of the NATO-Ukraine Council in Brussels, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha called for increased pressure on Russia to force it to the negotiating table.