Photo : President.gov.ua
Photo : President.gov.ua
By Fleur Elizabeth Philip
WAR ON THE GROUND
On 25 June, Ukrinform reported that the Ukrainian defence forces engaged in combat clashes with the Russian troops in the front lines in the Pokrovsk sector, making this exchange of fire the most brutal, with 40 attempted assaults. The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine said that there have been 118 engagements, 54 airstrikes, 80 guided bombs, 1,129 kamikaze strikes, and 4,126 shelling attacks conducted by Russia. The attacks have also taken place in the Northern and Southern Slobozhanshchyna, Kursk sectors, Kupiansk, Lyman, Prydniprovske, Orikhiv, Huliaipole, Novopavlivka, and the Siversk sectors.
On 25 June, Ukrinform reported that President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has signed a bilateral agreement with the Council of Europe for the creation of a Special Tribunal for the crime of aggression against Ukraine. Zelenskyy said that Ukraine, along with the Council of Europe, is launching the creation of a tribunal to try Russia. Following the signing, he said that every war offender must pay the price for their crimes, and there will be justice. He added that the tribunal is an opportunity to hold Russia accountable for its aggression. Council of Europe Secretary General Alain Berset affirmed that the Council is committed to justice and accountability across the European region. With the tribunal, the Council of Europe will develop a record calculating the asset damages in all of Ukraine.
THE MOSCOW VIEW
Claims by Russia
On 25 June, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said that Moscow and Kyiv are working together to completely execute the humanitarian part of their previous agreements, and there have been no discussions on the path to peace. Peskov added that in the next round of briefings, both regions would decide on the next steps once all the promises of the exchange of prisoners are completed. In the second round of peace talks in Istanbul on 02 June, both countries agreed to swap their Prisoners of War (PoW), children and 6000 fallen soldiers each. Regarding the exchange of the dead bodies, the Russian military said that they have transferred 6,060 Ukrainian bodies, and are to receive 3,000 more bodies.
On 25 June, the Federal Security Service of Russia reported that two Russians who were collecting improvised explosives from a cache outside Moscow had been confirmed dead, after opening fire on law enforcement. They were identified as accomplices to the Ukrainian Special Services, who were planning to use their device on the Russian military. There were investigations held, and they concluded that they were committing a felony, which included illegally possessing explosives. All of their plans and strategies were unveiled on their phones. The FSB has claimed that there have been several instances like this that were allegedly coordinated by the Ukrainian intelligence.
THE WEST VIEW
Responses from Europe and the US
In the NATO summit, they also discussed the US commitments to Article 5 of the NATO Treaty. Trump said that there were” numerous definitions” of the treaty, but affirmed that the US was with them throughout. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said at the press conference that the US is completely committed to NATO. Other member countries reaffirmed an “ironclad commitment” to Article 5 and stated that “an attack on one is an attack on all.” Managing Director of the German Marshall Fund in the US, Kristine Berzina, is in the Hague, and commented that the present time is not the perfect time to discuss the nuances of the clause, and it was up to the member countries to choose the extent of their support. She added that Article 5 was used only during 9/11 in the US.
References
“Zelensky signs agreement to establish Special Tribunal,” Ukrinform, 25 June 2025
“War update: 118 clashes reported, heavy Russian losses near Pokrovsk,” Ukrinform, 25 June 2025
Anchal Vohra, “NATO members step up spending, but doubts about US remain,” Deutsche Welle, 25 June 2025
“Trump doesn't rule out sending Ukraine more Patriot missiles after Zelenskyy meeting,” ABC News, 25 June 2025
“Trump Says He May Send Additional Patriot Systems to Ukraine,” The New York Times, 25 June 2025
“Kiev-orchestrated bomb plot thwarted in Moscow Region – FSB,” RT, 25 June 2025
“Peace dialogue with Kiev on hold – Moscow,” RT, 25 June 2025