US Slams Russia Over Oreshnik Missile as Ukraine War Escalates

The United States has sharply criticised Russia at the United Nations, accusing Moscow of a “dangerous and inexplicable escalation” of the war in Ukraine at a time when Washington says it is trying to push forward negotiations aimed at ending the nearly four-year conflict.

Speaking at an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council on Monday, U.S. Deputy Ambassador Tammy Bruce focused on Russia’s recent use of the nuclear-capable Oreshnik ballistic missile, which was launched last week close to Ukraine’s border with Poland, a NATO member. She said the strike sent a troubling signal and raised serious concerns about Moscow’s intentions.

Bruce told the council that the United States is alarmed by the “staggering number of casualties” in the war and strongly condemned Russia’s growing campaign of attacks on Ukraine’s energy system and other critical infrastructure. She said such actions are deepening the humanitarian crisis and pushing the conflict in a more dangerous direction.

Ukraine had requested the emergency meeting after Russia carried out a massive overnight assault last Thursday, firing hundreds of drones and dozens of missiles at targets across the country. Among them was the Oreshnik hypersonic missile, which Russia has now used only for the second time in the war. Ukrainian officials and their allies described the strike as a clear warning to NATO and a sign that Moscow is prepared to further widen the conflict.

The attack came just days after Ukraine and its partners said they had made significant progress toward agreeing on security arrangements to protect the country from future Russian aggression if a U.S.-led peace deal is eventually reached. Instead of easing tensions, the latest bombardment appeared to harden positions on both sides.

The timing also coincided with a fresh downturn in relations between Moscow and Washington, after Russia condemned the U.S. seizure of an oil tanker in the North Atlantic. At the same time, U.S. President Donald Trump signalled support for a tough new sanctions package aimed at further squeezing the Russian economy.

So far, Moscow has given no public indication that it is willing to soften what Western officials describe as its maximalist demands on Ukraine. Russia’s UN ambassador, Vassily Nebenzia, told the Security Council that the current diplomatic deadlock is Ukraine’s fault.

European leaders also denounced the use of the Oreshnik missile, calling it “escalatory and unacceptable.” Bruce echoed that view, saying that at a moment when there is “tremendous potential” for progress toward peace, both sides should be working to reduce tensions rather than inflame them.

“Yet Russia’s action risks expanding and intensifying the war,” she warned. Bruce also reminded the council that Russia itself voted in favour of a UN resolution nearly a year ago calling for an end to the conflict. “It would be nice if Russia matched their words with deeds,” she said, urging Russia, Ukraine and European countries to take the peace effort seriously.

Nebenzia responded by saying that Russia would continue military operations until Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy agrees to what he called “realistic conditions” for negotiations. He warned that every attack on Russian civilians would be met with a strong response and said that delays in talks would only worsen the terms for Kyiv.

Ukraine’s UN ambassador, Andriy Melnyk, rejected Russia’s claims of strength, telling the council that Moscow is more vulnerable now than at any point since it launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022. He pointed to a slowing Russian economy and falling oil revenues as signs of growing pressure.

“Russia wants to project the image that it is invincible, but this is an illusion,” Melnyk said, adding that the picture of strength presented by Moscow is “nothing but smoke and mirrors.”

As diplomatic efforts continue in the background, the sharp exchange at the UN underlined how far apart the two sides remain and how fragile hopes for de-escalation still are.