In a rare criticism of Russia, the Donald Trump administration has condemned the attack on Ukraine with nuclear-capable missile Oreshnik and called it a ‘dangerous and inexplicable escalation’ that risked ’expanding and intensifying the war’.
In a rare criticism of Russia, the Donald Trump administration of the United States on Monday condemned the attack on Ukraine with nuclear-capable missile Oreshnik and called it a “dangerous and inexplicable escalation” that risked “expanding and intensifying the war”.
In a statement at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), US deputy envoy Tammy Bruce said such a Russian attack went against Trump’s efforts to end the war and violated Russia’s pledge to end the war.
Bruce also noted that the attack was close to the border with Poland, a Nato member.
“This constitutes another dangerous and inexplicable escalation of this war, even as the United States is urgently working with Kyiv, other partners, and Moscow, to end the war through a negotiated settlement. At a moment of tremendous potential, due only to President Trump’s unparalleled commitment to peace around the world, both sides should be seeking ways to de-escalate, yet Russia’s action risks expanding and intensifying the war,” said Bruce.
Russia
struck western Ukrainian city of Lviv on the intervening night of Thursday and Friday with nuclear-capable missile Oreshnik. It said the strike was in response to a Ukrainian attack on one of President Vladimir Putin’s residences. The Trump administration has assessed that Ukraine did not launch any such attack.
Ambassador Bruce spoke at a UN Security Council emergency session on Russia’s latest attack on Ukraine. pic.twitter.com/cdbFAcgw7V
— U.S. Mission to the UN (@USUN) January 12, 2026
As Trump has aligned the United States with Russia in his second term, the statement at the UNSC was a rare rebuke. It came at a time when Russia has essentially
rejected Trump-endorsed US and European security guarantees for Ukraine as part of a peace deal. Putin has also essentially junked the latest proposal to end the war —
as he has rejected all the proposals so far. But, despite such rejections, Trump has refused to put any real pressure on Russia and Putin.
The administration further condemned Russia’s continuing attacks on Ukraine’s civilian infrastructure.
“We condemn Russia’s continuing and intensifying attacks on Ukraine’s energy facilities and other civil infrastructure. These attacks make a mockery of the cause of peace, a cause of paramount importance to the world, and to President Trump,” said Tammy.
Notably, at the time Oreshnik struck Lviv,
British Defence Secretary John Healey was just minutes away from the site and had to make an emergency stop.
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