Washington (TDI): The conflict in Ukraine entered a potentially more dangerous phase this week after drone strikes by Kyiv targeted Russian air bases housing nuclear-capable bombers, an action that prompted a sharp warning from Keith Kellogg, former US National Security Advisor and President Donald Trump’s current envoy for Ukraine
Ukraine confirmed that its forces carried out long-distance drone attacks on multiple sites deep inside Russian territory, including airfields located in Siberia and Russia’s northern regions, hitting targets nearly 4,300 kilometers (2,670 miles) from the front lines.
In an interview with US media, Kellogg expressed serious concern about the implications. “Striking any part of a country’s nuclear triad, even just one component, touches on their core defense system,” he said. “That’s when you enter into truly dangerous territory.”
He also flagged unverified claims of a separate Ukrainian strike on a Russian naval facility in the far north, calling them especially troubling.
Read More: Arab countries face pressure amidst Russia Ukraine Crisis
Back in Washington, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters that President Trump had not been alerted in advance of Ukraine’s operations, emphasizing that the US was not involved in planning the attacks.
At the diplomatic level, Russia and Ukraine resumed negotiations in Istanbul this week. However, those familiar with the discussions say that little progress was made.
Read More: Ukraine Peace Needs Root Cause Fix: Russian Envoy
According to Kellogg, Kyiv proposed what he described as “a practical and balanced offer,” while Russia reportedly held firm to a far more rigid stance. “The challenge now is bridging that divide,” he said.
These latest strikes, deeper and more daring than any previous Ukrainian operations, have added a fresh layer of volatility to an already precarious situation, raising alarms over whether this phase of the war could provoke a wider international confrontation.
Farkhund Yousafzai is an Associate Editor at The Diplomatic Insight.
