The confrontation at the Security Council underscored the deepening tension between Russia’s continued military offensive and the Trump administration’s push for a negotiated settlement — with Moscow maintaining maximalist demands on Kyiv even as Washington signaled it may support new economic sanctions against Russia.
The United States accused Russia on Monday of a “dangerous and inexplicable escalation” of the war in Ukraine at an emergency United Nations Security Council session, condemning a large-scale Russian attack that included the second-ever use of Moscow’s nuclear-capable Oreshnik hypersonic missile near the Ukrainian border with NATO member Poland.
U.S. deputy ambassador to the United Nations Tammy Bruce told the emergency meeting that the United States deplores “the staggering number of casualties” in the conflict and condemns Russia’s intensifying strikes on energy and other infrastructure. The session came as the Trump administration was actively working to advance peace negotiations between Moscow and Kyiv.
“At a moment of tremendous potential, due only to President Trump’s unparalleled commitment to peace around the world, both sides should be seeking ways to de-escalate,” Bruce said. “Yet Russia’s action risks expanding and intensifying the war.”
Background to the emergency session
Ukraine requested the meeting following a large-scale Russian bombardment the previous Thursday that involved hundreds of drones and dozens of missiles, including the powerful Oreshnik. The attack came days after Ukraine and its allies reported significant progress toward a framework for defending the country in the event of a U.S.-brokered peace deal.
The assault also coincided with a new deterioration in U.S.-Russia relations after Moscow condemned a U.S. seizure of an oil tanker in the North Atlantic. President Donald Trump separately signaled support for a hard-hitting new sanctions package aimed at economically crippling Russia.
European leaders condemned Russia’s use of the Oreshnik as “escalatory and unacceptable.” Bruce reminded Russia that nearly a year earlier it had voted in favor of a Security Council resolution calling for an end to the conflict.
“It would be nice if Russia matched their words with deeds,” she said. “In the spirit of that resolution, Russia, Ukraine and Europe must pursue peace seriously and bring this nightmare to an end.”
Russia and Ukraine at odds before the council
Russia’s U.N. Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia rejected the criticism and placed responsibility for the impasse on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
“Until Zelenskyy comes to his senses and agrees to realistic conditions for negotiations, we will continue solving the problem by military means,” Nebenzia said. “He was warned long ago, with each passing day, each day which he squanders, the conditions for negotiations will only get worse for him.”
Moscow has given no public signal it is prepared to move from its maximalist demands on Ukraine.
Ukraine’s U.N. Ambassador Andriy Melnyk disputed that framing, arguing that Russia’s apparent military and economic strength is overstated.
“Russia wants to sell to this council and the whole U.N. family the impression that it is invincible, but this is another illusion,” Melnyk said. “The carefully staged image of strength is nothing but smoke and mirrors, completely detached from reality.” He said Russia’s economy is slowing and oil revenue is down, and argued the country is more vulnerable now than at any point since the full-scale invasion began in February 2022.