Merz warns: Russian attack on Kyiv - The war continues!

Merz warns: Russian attack on Kyiv - The war continues!

In recent days, Ukraine has again been hit by heavy Russian air strikes. The capital Kyiv was particularly affected, where residents surveyed the destruction. Over 20 people are reported to have died in the latest attack in Kyiv. Around 600 combat drones and more than 30 rockets and cruise missiles have been deployed by Russia, further escalating the violence and destruction in the conflict. Ukraine is still carrying out rescue operations in the rubble of an apartment building where more people may be trapped. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called the attack a blow to Ukraine and Europe, and UN Secretary-General António Guterres called for an immediate ceasefire after condemning the attack on civilians.

Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz commented on the current developments in the Ukraine war in a ZDF summer interview. He emphasized that Ukraine's surrender was not an option and was viewed as dangerous. According to his assessment, the war could continue for a long time without a clear military defeat for Russians or Ukrainians. Merz spoke out in favor of diplomatic initiatives to end the conflict, but emphasized that these should not come at the expense of Ukrainian independence. He also calls for greater US involvement in conflict resolution efforts.

Russia announces it will boycott peace talks

The situation became particularly acute when Russia expressly rejected a proposal for peace talks. Merz drew attention to the fact that US President Donald Trump had set a deadline for a meeting between the presidents of Russia and Ukraine, but Russia ignored it. Last week saw additional attacks in the port city of Odessa, hitting a power plant, causing a power outage for more than 29,000 people. Chornomorsk also received heavy shelling, and the attack left significant damage to residential and administrative buildings.

Meanwhile, the Ukrainian military has increasingly attacked Russian refineries to counteract the pressure on Ukrainian cities. In his latest appeal, Zelensky called for significant support from international partners and announced that talks on security guarantees would take place in New York. The US State Department has also approved an $825 million arms sale to Ukraine to bolster its military capabilities.

The situation in Ukraine reflects a complex mix of military conflicts and diplomatic efforts. The large number of attacks and the associated civilian casualties make it clear that peace is a long way off, which further dampens hopes for diplomatic solutions.

In summary, despite all international efforts to bring about a turnaround in this conflict, the escalation continues unabated and the civilian population is suffering from the intense fighting.

For more information, see reports from crown, Mirror and German business news.