Displaying items by tag: War

NATO allies, including the USA, have reaffirmed their ‘ironclad commitment’ to collective defence at a brief summit in The Hague. The final five‑paragraph communiqué emphasised unity, describing Russia as a ‘long‑term threat’ but stopping short of explicitly condemning its invasion of Ukraine, marking a shift from prior statements. In the only reference to the war, it said: ‘Allies reaffirm their enduring sovereign commitments to provide support to Ukraine, whose security contributes to ours.’ It also reaffirmed NATO’s founding tenet, that an attack on one is an attack on all, despite Trump hinting at differing definitions. A notable commitment was a pledge to raise defence investment to 5% of GDP by 2035. The toned‑down language and ambitious new spending target reflect tensions within the alliance. Meanwhile, on 24 June seventeen people were killed and over a hundred injured in a daytime Russian airstrike: see

Evangelist David Karcha has said that even in the midst of war, Ukraine is seeing a profound spiritual awakening.  He has described how churches have become sanctuaries of hope, drawing countless people to Christ. When Russia invaded in 2022, Ukrainian evangelicals chose not to flee but to remain, share in the suffering, and witness through faith. Karcha declared that while the Gospel is powerful in peace, it becomes ‘unstoppable’ in war. Across the country, churches are seeing thousands profess faith and be baptised, driven by deep spiritual hunger. Their acts of faith have created a unified movement no war can halt. Evangelicals minister on the frontlines, in hospitals, to widows, orphans, and the broken. The church serves not only physical needs but also hearts seeking hope. Thanking European churches for their love and support, Karcha says, ‘We listen. We pray. We help. Then, when we see how we can help and what can be gone, we speak Jesus.’

Following Ukraine’s audacious deep strikes on Russian strategic bomber bases, Moscow is facing mounting internal pressure to retaliate. While the Kremlin remains publicly silent pending investigation, media figures and bloggers have erupted with calls for harsh responses, including nuclear retaliation. Though such threats are not new in Russian rhetoric, the recent attacks - possibly disrupting Russia’s nuclear response capabilities - may challenge the limits of Moscow’s stated nuclear doctrine. An actual nuclear strike remains unlikely due to the immense diplomatic fallout it would trigger, particularly with key partners like China and India. A more probable reaction will take the form of intensified missile and drone attacks on Ukrainian infrastructure. As Ukraine’s Western allies ease restrictions on weapons use, the Kremlin may feel compelled to escalate, risking unpredictable consequences in an already volatile war. Meanwhile, the two sides have failed to make progress in ceasefire talks in Istanbul: see

In Rodynske, Ukraine, devastation and fear hang in the air after a Russian glide bomb destroyed the town’s administrative centre and residential blocks. Russian attacks have surged, with Rodynske now facing direct strikes and drone assaults. Journalists encountered deadly surveillance and attack drones, evidence of Russian advances. Russia’s increasing use of fibre optic drones - immune to electronic jamming - gives it a tactical edge, making troop movements perilous. Ukrainian forces are racing to develop similar technology. Soldiers have described the extreme mental and physical toll, with deployments now stretching to months due to constant drone threats. Front lines are no longer clearly defined; infiltrations occur with motorcycles and quad bikes, creating fragmented, shifting battle zones. Civilians, returning to destroyed homes, bear witness to worsening conditions. With diplomatic efforts stalled, this evolving conflict grows more deadly by the day. Meanwhile, Volodymyr Zelensky, on a visit to Germany (where chancellor Friedrich Merz has promised more financial and military help), has warned that 50,000 Russian troops are massing on Ukraine’s eastern border, preparing for a massive new offensive. See

Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov has acknowledged delays in weapons deliveries to Armenia due to the strain of the war in Ukraine. Armenia, a long-time Russian ally, has historically depended on Russian arms amid its bitter decades-long conflict with Azerbaijan. However, as Moscow struggles to meet military commitments, Armenia is increasingly turning to Western partners like France and India for defense support. Lavrov said that these shifts were worrying, especially given France’s strong opposition to Russia's actions in Ukraine. But Armenia has expressed deepening frustration with Moscow, particularly after Russian peacekeepers failed to prevent the mass exodus of over 100,000 ethnic Armenians from Nagorno-Karabakh during Azerbaijan’s swift military campaign in September 2023. As Armenia rethinks its security alliances, the region remains volatile, with historical wounds and unresolved tensions continuing to shape its strategic decisions.

Peace efforts between Russia and Ukraine took a cautious step forward as Russian delegates arrived in Istanbul on 15 May for proposed negotiations. Volodymyr Zelensky had invited Vladimir Putin to meet in person, but Putin declined, appointing aide Vladimir Medinsky to lead Russia’s delegation. The absence of top Russian officials, including foreign minister Sergey Lavrov, cast doubt on Moscow’s seriousness. Ukraine, emphasising the need for high-level talks, questioned the format and substance of the meeting. Zelensky said he would decide Ukraine’s response after seeing Russia’s true intentions. Ukraine and its allies had urged an unconditional ceasefire from 12 May, a proposal Moscow ignored. Donald Trump, who at one stage expressed interest in attending, will not participate, though Marco Rubio, Steve Witkoff, and NATO secretary Mark Rutte could do so. The situation remains fluid, with uncertainty surrounding whether the talks will lead to meaningful de-escalation or remain another missed opportunity.

Vladimir Putin has announced a new three-day unilateral ceasefire, to run from 8 to 10 May, coinciding with Russia’s World War II commemorations. It follows a previous thirty-hour Easter ceasefire, which critics say Moscow repeatedly violated. The Kremlin frames these brief pauses as humanitarian gestures; Ukrainian officials argue that if Russia truly sought peace, it would halt hostilities immediately. Foreign minister Andrii Sybiha called for a thirty-day truce instead. Observers question whether Putin’s moves are sincere peace efforts or merely an attempt to influence Donald Trump, who has recently voiced frustration with both Russia and Ukraine. Trump has criticised Putin for continuing attacks on civilian areas and floated harsher sanctions. When in March he proposed a thirty-day ceasefire, Ukraine agreed, but Russia did not. In another development, the much-anticipated natural resources agreement between the USA and Ukraine has been signed: see

The USA has presented Ukraine with a controversial one-page peace framework, described as Donald Trump’s ‘final offer’, which would grant significant concessions to Russia, including recognition of its occupation of Crimea and of territories which it has captured since the war began. In exchange, Ukraine would receive vague security guarantees, economic aid, and partial territorial returns. The plan also proposes that the USA would operate Ukraine’s Zaporizhzha nuclear plant and distribute its electricity output between the two countries. Sources say Kyiv views the proposal as heavily skewed in Moscow’s favour. Trump’s envoy, Steve Witkoff, drafted the deal after a lengthy meeting with Putin, who has shown interest in freezing current battle lines. However, European leaders remain skeptical of Putin’s sincerity, and critics argue that the deal sacrifices core Ukrainian interests for political expediency. Volodymyr Zelensky has drawn further harsh criticism from Trump for refusing to countenance the loss of Crimea: see The war continues, with the worst Russian attack on Kyiv in months: see

A quiet yet courageous resistance is growing among evangelical leaders in Russia who are risking their freedom to oppose the war in Ukraine. Bishop Albert Ratkin, pastor of Word of Life Church near Moscow, has been labelled a 'foreign agent' by the Kremlin and has had his church raided. Despite the risks, Ratkin continues to speak publicly against the war, declaring that Christians must not support violence. Other pastors, such as Nikolay Romanyuk and Yuri Sipko, have faced imprisonment, persecution, or have fled the country entirely. Romanyuk is currently facing prison for urging Christians not to enlist, while Sipko fled to Germany after authorities called his sermons 'enemy propaganda’. Pastor Andre Furmanov helps church members obtain military exemptions but avoids public protests to avoid jeopardizing lives. These men represent a small group of faithful believers whose conscience, shaped by the gospel, compels them to stand for peace and truth. Despite repression and persecution, they remain committed to proclaiming Christ’s message of love and justice.

Vladimir Putin has ordered the conscription of 160,000 new troops between April and July, targeting citizens aged 18 to 30. The spring draft is part of Russia’s biannual conscription cycle; the previous autumn round brought in 133,000 recruits. The decree also confirms that those whose conscripted service has ended will be discharged. Last year, Russia raised the conscription age limit from 27 to 30, and now maintains a military force of approximately 2.4 million, with 1.5 million on active duty. Despite increasing manpower, Russia’s war in Ukraine continues to take a heavy toll. Western and Ukrainian estimates suggest over 768,000 Russian troops have been lost—killed, wounded, missing, or captured—since the invasion began in 2022. November 2023 marked a grim record with over 2,000 casualties in a single day. Ukraine, too, has suffered significant losses; Volodymyr Zelensky has recently acknowledged over 43,000 soldiers killed. The drawn-out conflict remains costly and unresolved, as both nations brace for further battles.