Photo : The Guardian
Photo : The Guardian
By Fleur Elizabeth Philip
WAR ON THE GROUND
On 03 June, Euronews reported that Kyiv attacked the Kerch bridge in Crimea, which was illegally built by Russia following their annexation in 2014. The Ukrainian Security Service (SBU) released a video of the attack and stated that this operation had taken months to plan. They added that the underwater bridge was severely damaged as 1,100 kgs of explosives like TNT were attached. The Kerch Bridge links Russia and Ukraine, serving as a critical transport route for the Russian military.
On 03 June, Euronews reported that Russia attacked the Sumy region, killing three and injuring 20 people. Ukrainian emergency services state that, as per the investigation reports, Russia used long-range multiple launch rocket systems. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy released a statement and said that the attack targeted the city and it was a deliberate attack on the people, and called upon the US and Europe to impose more sanctions on Russia. The regional military administration of Sumy reported that the attacks have destroyed several medical facilities, cars, and buildings. Zelenskyy further commented on the attack and said that this was Russia’s desire to end the war.
On 04 June, Ukrinform reported that Russian troops launched a new attack on Kharkiv using Shahed drones and missiles. This attack caused multiple fires across the city, damaging the industrial areas and residential zones, with one person. Mayor of Kharkiv, Ihor Terekhov, said that Russia used nine Shahed drones and two missiles to attack the region. Investigations are taking place to identify the type of drones used.
THE MOSCOW VIEW
Claims by Russia
On 03 June, The Moscow Times reported on Russia’s demands from Ukraine, that was part of their memorandum. They include, first, Ukraine's call for an immediate ceasefire on air, sea, and land. A 30-day unconditional ceasefire is a necessity for prerequisite peace negotiations. Russian President Vladimir Putin ignored the calls for a ceasefire, but said that a ceasefire depends on Kyiv’s withdrawal from Donetsk, Luhansk, and Zaporizhzhia. Russian delegations that attended the peace talks said that the moment when the Ukrainian Armed Forces withdraw from the front lines, they will be open to a ceasefire. Russia has also called for a halt to the mobilisation of foreign troops and an end to the military aid and intelligence support to Ukraine. Both parties proposed to establish a monitoring mission that will oversee the ceasefire. However, Russia wants a “bilateral monitoring centre” that is led by the US and third-world countries. Second, Moscow wants Ukraine to be barred from NATO and all military alliances. They have also demanded a halt to the flow of weapons and a ban on the troop deployment on Russia’s borders. Their memorandum is put in two parts, and the second part consists of a roadmap to peace. Per the roadmap, there is a clause on mutual refusal to claim compensation for war-related damages. It also states that Kyiv should not remain neutral, and can choose to be a part of the trans-Atlantic community, and can be a part of the EU. Third is the economic and political issue. Ukraine said that it could release some of the sanctions eventually and in stages, but the Russian assets will remain frozen until the repatriations are paid. Russia proposed a phased restoration of diplomatic and economic ties that include gas transit and transportation links with Ukraine and rejects all the existing and new sanctions imposed between the two countries. Moscow has also called for presidential and parliamentary elections that are to be held in Ukraine within 100 days, following the lifting of martial law.
On 03 June, The Moscow Times reported that the Kremlin released a statement and said that negotiating on ending the war with Ukraine is “extremely complex,” and they do not want to expect any breakthroughs, but they await a response from Kyiv regarding the memorandum. Top spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told the reporters that following the peace talks with Ukraine, Russia will only end the war if Kyiv gives up large portions of the territory and reduces the size of the military. Ukraine, in response, said that though they dismissed such demands in the past, they will consider the proposal made by Moscow and issue a formal reply. Furthermore, Peskov said that Moscow and Washington have not scheduled any calls between Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump, and claimed that Trump and Zelenskyy will not hold direct talks soon.
On 03 June, The Moscow Times reported that Russian investigators accuse Ukraine of the detonation of the Kerch Bridge in Crimea. According to the investigators at the scene, seven are dead and more than 100 are injured. Investigative Committee spokesperson Svetlana Petrenko said that the terrorists followed the orders of the “Kyiv regime,” and planned everything with precision. They also found fragments of explosive devices at the scene that collapsed in the collapsed highway bridge. The Federal Security Service (FSB) and the Russian Interior Ministry are assisting in capturing the perpetrators and the organisers who committed the crimes.
THE WEST VIEW
Responses from the US and Europe
On 04 June, Ukrinform reported that the Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha released a post on X, and said that there has been no response from Russia so far regarding the memorandum that they had sent much before the talks in Istanbul. Sybiha insisted on a response from Russia, but they remain silent regarding the end of the war. He said that instead of responding to the proposals in Istanbul, the Russian side passed a set of ultimatums that do not serve the purpose of ending the war. He further stated that Russia has rejected all the meaningful formats for a ceasefire, which gives the US and Europe more opportunities to impose sanctions. He emphasised the proposals made by Ukraine, which included an immediate and unconditional ceasefire, reliable and concrete security from the West to deter Russia, the return of all deported children, and an all-for-all exchange of prisoners.
On 03 June, The Kyiv Independent reported that the Ukrainian Air Force spokesperson Yurii Ihnat, in an interview, said that Ukraine is to deploy new air defence units to counter the drone attacks made by Russia. Despite the ongoing peace talks and calls for an unconditional ceasefire, there have been drone and missile attacks on Ukraine, affecting civilians.
On 03 June, Ukrinform reported that the US House of Representatives' Mike Johnson has expressed his support for the efforts made by the Congress to impose “bone-breaking” sanctions on the Kremlin. Johnson told the reporters that they want to strongly impose sanctions upon Russia, with the aim of “punishing” the Russians. Senators Linsey Graham and Richard Blumenthal have designed a bill in the upper chamber proposing a 500 per cent tariff on any country that purchases Russian products. The bill is currently under consideration by the Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee.
On 03 June, Euractiv reported that the NATO members are planning to use the defence spending to boost military aid to Ukraine. Under the proposal to raise the defence spending to five per cent, there will be a purchase of military equipment and an investment in the Ukrainian arms industry. There is a possibility that the proposal would be overturned before the NATO summit in The Hague, Netherlands. The current proposal looks at a five per cent target, with 3.5 per cent in core defence and 1.5 per cent in cyber security, infrastructure.
References
Sascha Vakulina, “Ukraine strikes Kerch bridge in Crimea with underwater explosives,” Euronews, 03 June 2025
Sascha Vakulina, “Russian attack on Ukraine's Sumy kills at least three and injures 20,” Euronews, 03 June 2025
“What We’ve Learned From Russia and Ukraine’s Peace Roadmaps,” The Moscow Times, 03 June 2025
“Russian Investigators Blame Ukraine for Deadly Bridge Blasts Near Border,” The Moscow Times, 03 June 2025
“Kremlin Tempers Expectations for Ukraine Peace Talks, Says It Awaits Kyiv’s Response to Proposals,” The Moscow Times, 03 June 2025
“Ukraine demands Russia respond to document with peace proposals – Sybiha,” Ukrinform, 04 June 2025
“Ukraine to deploy new units to counter Russian drone attacks, Air Force says,” The Kyiv Independent, 04 June 2025
“Kharkiv hit by Shahed drones, missiles overnight,” Ukrinform, 04 June 2025
“House Speaker Johnson backs efforts to impose ‘bone-breaking’ sanctions on Russia” Ukrinform, 03 June 2025
“NATO countries would count Ukraine military aid toward new 5% defence spending target,” Euractiv, 03 June 2025