At the end of June, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in an unusual move declared the start of a 40-day intensified pressure campaign against Russia, designed to force Moscow to the negotiating table and agree on terms favorable to Ukraine to end the war.
This was an effort seize on the momentum of repeat drone hits on Russian refinery and energy infrastructure - a reality Russia has suffered over many months, leading to an ongoing fuel crisis spanning dozens of cities and regions, and especially Crimea, which earlier in the summer had to temporarily halt fuel sales to common citizens for a time.
In mid-June, Ukrainian Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov proclaimed "Hell is beginning," for Russia and its military. "Logistics are being cut off. Crimea is being isolated," he said at the time. From there, drone attacks across the Moscow region greatly intensified.
But Russia in turn responded with its own major campaign. In response to major nightly long-range Ukrainian drone attacks deep into its territory, Russia sent more and more ballistic missiles on Kiev - and even the far West areas of Ukraine.
On Friday Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has essentially declared Zelensky's 40-day campaign to be defeated and moot. He described in a fresh media interview that not only will Russian forces implement a tougher response against Ukraine, but will go after the sources of Western support. He specifically raised the issue of the United States and its role.
"We have submitted a series of questions to the State Department requesting comment, including on the matter of intelligence data and the fact that the US is far more deeply involved in organizing and executing strikes deep within Russian territory against civilian targets. We await a response," Lavrov told state television, as quoted in Reuters.
"Russia will intensify its military campaign in Ukraine and seek to destroy every element used by the West to sustain Kiev’s war effort," the top diplomat said.
The Foreign Ministry has of late accused Ukraine of "brazen acts of terrorism" against shipping in the Black Sea, amid tit-for-tat ongoing attacks which have disrupted energy and grain shipping.
"We will not sink to their level. Instead, we will adopt much harsher methods to destroy everything that enables the West to fuel Kiev’s war machine. We are already doing this, and they are already moaning," Lavrov asserted.
On the question of initiatives toward peace which Washington once prioritized (but now no longer seems to), Lavrov quoted Putin as saying while alluding back to the Alaska summit:
"Donald, you sent us proposals, and I’ve given them some thought. There are matters that require compromise. But I accept your proposals in the form you sent them to me."
As for Lavrov's questions on Washington's covert targeting support to Ukraine, the Trump administration is unlikely to give a direct response or acknowledgement to the query.
President Trump at this start of his term vowed repeatedly to find a swift end to the war and a lasting peace, but this has remained elusive, and instead it appears he has kept up US intelligence and weapons support to Kiev - something that many MAGA supporters wanted to see a halt to.
