Peace talks in Paris: The bloodshed in Ukraine must end!

Peace talks in Paris: The bloodshed in Ukraine must end!

At midday on April 17, 2025, several news outlets reported a devastating drone attack on the Ukrainian city of Dnipro. At least three people, including a child, lost their lives and 28 others were injured, including four children. The attack led to several fires and significant damage to residential buildings, including a student dormitory. The Ukrainian Air Force had previously located Russian combat drones over the cities of Kryvyi Rih and Kharkiv. In a worrying context, a rocket attack also occurred on Izium, injuring two people.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and special envoy Steve Wittkoff held parallel talks in France about the situation in the Ukraine conflict. These talks followed a meeting between Wittkoff and Russian President Vladimir Putin the previous week. The goal of these diplomatic efforts is to end the Russo-Ukrainian war and stop the bloodshed. While Trump and Wittkoff believe that Putin is ultimately interested in peace, European countries are taking a contrary approach: They want to support and strengthen Ukraine militarily before possible negotiations.

International dimension of the conflict

The international dimension of the conflict is becoming increasingly complex. Loud swp-berlin.org The war has become internationalized in recent years, with Western countries deeply involved in military, political and economic support for Ukraine. At the same time, a support group has formed around Russia, made up of countries such as Iran and North Korea. These ties not only strengthen Russia's military presence, but also destabilize other conflict regions and reduce Russia's ability to act as a moderating factor in geostrategic developments in the Middle East.

Russia's dependence on Iranian arms supplies and military cooperation with North Korea also have far-reaching consequences for the stability of the region. This cooperation could give Tehran and Pyongyang easier access to Russian nuclear weapons technology, thereby endangering the entire international security system.

Ukrainian defense capabilities

On the Ukrainian side there is concern about the continued dependence on foreign arms supplies. President Zelensky reported that Ukraine now produces over 40 percent of its own weapons and produces more than a thousand different types of weapons. Despite this progress, however, the country remains dependent on Western support, particularly in the procurement of tanks and air defense systems.

The current situation shows how fragile the situation is in Ukraine and in the wider international community. The conflict has far-reaching implications for global food security and international energy markets. The destabilization initiated by Russia has not only regional but also international dimensions, forcing the global community to address the challenges arising from this war.