US accuses Russia of 'dangerous and inexplicable escalation' of war in Ukraine

US accuses Russia of 'dangerous and inexplicable escalation' of war in UkraineThe United States is accusing Russia of a “dangerous and inexplicable escalation” of the nearly four-year war in Ukraine at a time when the Trump administration is trying to advance negotiations toward peaceByEDITH M. LEDERER Associated PressVideo byLilia GehoJanuary 12, 2026, 7:16 PMUNITED NATIONS -- The United States accused Russia on Monday of a “dangerous and inexplicable escalation” of its nearly four-year war in Ukraine at a time when the Trump administration is trying to advance negotiations toward peace. U. S. deputy ambassador to the United Nations Tammy Bruce singled out Russia’s launch of a nuclear-capable Oreshnik ballistic missile last week close to Ukraine’s border with Poland, a NATO ally. She told an emergency meeting of the Security Council that the United States deplores “the staggering number of casualties” in the conflict and condemns Russia’s intensifying attacks on energy and other infrastructure. Ukraine called for the meeting after last Thursday’s overnight Russian bombardment with hundreds of drones and dozens of missiles, including the powerful, new hypersonic Oreshnik missile, which Moscow used for only the second time in what was a clear warning to Kyiv’s NATO allies. The large-scale attack came days after Ukraine and its allies reported major progress toward agreeing on how to defend the country from further Moscow aggression if a U. S.-led peace deal is struck. The attack also coincided with a new chill in relations between Moscow and Washington after Russia condemned the U. S.