France Calls for UN Debate on Russian Strikes Against Ukrainian Civilians

The UN Security Council is set to convene Tuesday, April 29, to examine the latest upsurge in Russian attacks on Ukraine, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha confirmed.

France, which is the current Security Council president, called the meeting in response to growing concerns about the recent escalation in Russian attacks on civilians.

In recent weeks, Russia has ramped up its use of drones and missiles across Ukrainian cities, even as diplomatic efforts to find a peaceful solution to the war continue.

Ukraine has reiterated its call for a complete and unconditional ceasefire, which Moscow has so far refused to accept.

“Ukraine is committed to peace efforts. We agreed to the US proposal for a full ceasefire 49 days ago, but Russia did not,” Sybiha said, referring to a March 11 agreement reached in Jeddah. “This is a clear indication of who is interested in peace and who wishes to continue the war.”

On April 24, a missile strike on Kyiv killed 13 and injured nearly 90, marking the deadliest assault on the capital in months.

Sybiha urged Security Council members to back Ukraine’s push for peace and denounce what he described as Russia’s ongoing campaign of violence targeting civilians.

The 15-member Security Council, which includes five permanent powers - China, France, Russia, the UK, and the US – is charged with maintaining international peace and security.

Other Topics of Interest

Zelensky Reveals Intercepted Intel From Putin’s Desk

President Volodymyr Zelensky has declassified intercepted Russian intelligence forecasts that indicate a deepening domestic crisis for the Kremlin. The internal documents, originally prepared for Vladimir Putin’s desk, project that by the Sept. 20 State Duma elections, public disapproval of the Russian leader will steadily climb to at least 33%. Simultaneously, support for the ruling United Russia party is plummeting, sparking a surge in regional protest sentiment.

Given that permanent members have veto power, it is unlikely any resolution condemning the recent surge in violence would pass – Russia will use its veto right.

Russian President Vladimir Putin recently announced a limited three-day truce from May 8 to 10 in recognition of the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II in Europe. However, Ukrainian officials remain skeptical, citing numerous past violations of temporary truces by Russian forces.