Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned of a "massive" new Russian attack, stating intelligence suggested Moscow had "readied missiles" for an assault "within the next 48 hours." This stark warning underscores the ongoing conflict driving forced displacement across Europe's selectively open borders. The war, now in its fifth year, continues to generate human suffering, while the continent's border regime maintains its discriminatory practices.
Escalation and the Border Regime
The warning followed Russian missile strikes on the Kyiv region just two days ago, which killed at least 10 people and injured around 100 more. These strikes reportedly hit an arms exhibition where representatives of the Ukrainian defence industry were present. A further five people died following guided aerial bomb strikes in Slovyansk on the same day. The Latvian consulate in Slovyansk was also damaged in these attacks. Kaja Kallas, the European Union's top diplomat, stated the strike on the consulate "underscores Moscow’s utter disregard for international law," adding, "Latvia has our full support." This selective outrage highlights the EU's focus on its own interests and member states, while the broader human cost of the conflict, particularly for those seeking refuge, often goes unacknowledged.
On Saturday, Zelenskyy confirmed that Ukrainian forces had carried out strikes on a weapons facility in Kirov the previous night. Ukraine also targeted an oil refinery in Tyumen, a logistics facility in Yekaterinburg, and a fuel and lubricants depot in Rostov-on-Don. Zelenskyy claimed "very strong results with long-range strikes in the Caspian Sea," including vessels used in military cargo shipments involving Iran, as well as a warship. These actions demonstrate the escalating militarisation of the conflict, a cycle that inevitably fuels further displacement and reinforces the need for open borders, not more weapons. In Ukraine, one person died and nine were injured following a Russian attack on the southeastern region of Zaporizhzhia on Saturday.
The Illusion of Peace
Zelenskyy is due to meet with US President Donald Trump in Washington next week as the US and Ukraine continue to discuss peace proposals to end the war. Just four days ago, Zelenskyy said he had spoken with US special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, Trump's son-in-law, about efforts to end the conflict. He described it as "A good and important conversation about how to energize diplomacy and bring peace closer." Yet, these diplomatic overtures often mask the underlying geopolitical struggles that perpetuate the conflict and the suffering it causes.
Earlier this week, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov met with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on the sidelines of the ASEAN foreign ministers' summit in the Philippines. According to the Kremlin, Lavrov used the meeting to warn Washington against continuing arms sales to Kyiv. The Russian foreign ministry stated, "Lavrov briefed his American counterpart on the actual situation along the front line and emphasised that it would be unacceptable to further arm the Kyiv regime." Rubio, speaking to reporters, called it a "good," "frank" conversation but declined details. Asked about the Kremlin's statement, Rubio responded, "We sell arms via PURL, which is an initiative we have through NATO and that's what we're involved in. There's been no change to our policy in that regard." He added, "We want a peace deal. We want the war to end." The continued emphasis on arms sales, even amidst calls for peace, reveals the deep entanglement of military-industrial interests in prolonging the conflict, ensuring a steady stream of profits for some, and a constant flow of displaced people for others to criminalise at Europe's borders. The rhetoric of peace rings hollow when the machinery of war continues to be supplied.