What happened
Russia has escalated its attacks on Ukraine, targeting civilian infrastructure in an attempt to break the Ukrainian resolve, according to former ambassador to NATO Jüri Luik. Luik states that Russia's actions are a sign of its failure to achieve a breakthrough on the battlefield, as Ukrainian forces have been able to retake territory.
Russia has also increased its rhetoric against the West, warning embassies to leave Kyiv and threatening to use nuclear weapons if necessary. However, Luik believes that these threats are a form of propaganda pressure and will not have a significant impact on Western societies.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has responded to Russia's threats, stating that NATO is a defensive alliance and will defend every inch of its territory. Luik notes that NATO plays an important role in providing a security framework that allows countries to act more boldly and provide assistance to Ukraine.
The possibility of peace talks in the near future appears to be a dead issue, with Putin's recent statements indicating that he is more interested in shaping Europe's post-war security system than in negotiating a peaceful resolution to the conflict.
