On 1,000th day, war in Ukraine sees another escalation

By Elena Teslova

MOSCOW (AA) - The conflict in Ukraine marked its 1,000th day on Tuesday, underscoring its evolution through rapid advances, prolonged stalemates, and unyielding battles.

The conflict saw a significant change after the beginning of the Israeli war on Gaza, which had a significant impact on the situation in Ukraine, diverting international attention and resources from Kyiv.

Western countries, particularly the US, have had to juggle support for Israel alongside their commitments to Ukraine, leading to concerns about a strain on military aid, political focus, and economic resources.

In June 2024, Russian President Vladimir Putin proposed peace negotiations, setting conditions, including Kyiv's withdrawal from Moscow-controlled regions, recognition of Russian territorial gains, renunciation of anti-Russian military alliances, and neutrality for Ukraine.

In August, Ukraine launched incursions into Russia’s Kursk region, targeting key infrastructure like airfields and transportation routes while advancing ground forces.

Kyiv aimed to resist Russian forces redeployments, bolster domestic morale, and demonstrate its military capabilities to allies.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated these operations sought to establish a strategic buffer zone -- a strip of land that separates two countries to reduce conflict or tensions.

Putin described the Kursk operation as a "terrorist attack," emphasizing that Moscow perceived it as an attempt to shift attention from Ukraine's regions, which he said, "failed."

Meanwhile, Russia continued advancements in Ukraine's east, capturing villages, strongholds, and logistical hubs, including Avdiivka, Zalizne, and Vuhledar.

The conflict has increasingly become a war of attrition, with both sides fortifying their defenses.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had long fought for getting the authorization to hit the Russian territory with Western-made ballistic missiles, and on Tuesday, Brian Nichols, the US assistant secretary of state for western hemisphere affairs, confirmed media reports claiming President Joe Biden yielded to the request.

The next day after media reports claimed Kyiv may carry out strikes deep into Russian territory, Moscow made a retaliatory move with Putin signing an updated Russia's nuclear doctrine, authorizing nuclear strikes in response to attacks with ballistic missiles.

As the Ukraine conflict surpasses its 1,000-day mark, its complexities deepen, shaped by external crises and escalating military developments, underscoring the dire need for renewed diplomatic efforts to avert further escalation.