Russia hit several Ukrainian power plants in the hours after US President Donald Trump declared an energy ceasefire, strikes that Kyiv’s supporters cited as further evidence of Moscow’s bad faith in peace negotiations. Faced with domestic cost-of-living concerns ahead of midterm elections, the US has agreed to import diesel from Russia — despite threatening sanctions on others that do so — and pressed for Moscow and Kyiv to reduce tensions.
But the Kremlin has shown little sign of easing its offensive: Along with the attacks on Ukraine’s power infrastructure, Russia has intensified strikes on Ukrainian civilians in recent weeks while stepping up what European leaders say is a hybrid warfare campaign: NATO should prepare for a potential deadly Russian attack, Poland warned.
— Prashant Rao