by Lorenzo Rossi
The last attack on the nuclear power plant of Chernobyl and the declarations of the western leaders confirm that the war in Ukraine It is entering an increasingly complex phase, where the military front is intertwined with the diplomatic one. If on the one hand the President Volodymyr Zelensky denounces new Russian attacks on sensitive objectives, on the other the international pressures for a possible negotiation increase, especially after the recent statements of Donald Trump and the cautious openings of Emmanuel Macron.
The attack on Chernobyl: nuclear risk or pressure strategy?
The accusation launched by Zelensky is serious: according to the Ukrainian president, A Russian explosive drone would have affected the containment arch of the reactor n ° 4 of the Chernobyl plantstructure that isolates the protagonist reactor of the nuclear disaster of 1986. Kiev’s authorities reassure that There have been no radiation escapesbut the episode remains alarming.
If confirmed, the bombing would represent a qualitative leap in Russian attacks: hitting a nuclear power plant, even if not active, means raising safety questions not only for Ukraine, but for the whole Europe. However, it is not the first time that energy and nuclear infrastructures have been involved in the conflict: the central of Zaporizhziathe largest in Europe, was the scene of repeated clashes between the two sides.
Moscow’s goal could be twofold: on the one hand, put pressure on Kiev, hitting a symbol of Ukrainian vulnerability; on the other, send a message to the international community on the eve of the Munich security conferencewhere the future of the conflict is discussed.
The war of the drones: an increasingly heated front
While Zelensky denounces the attack on Chernobyl, Moscow accuses Kiev of having intensified the raids with drones on the Russian border regions. Last night, about fifty Ukrainian drones have been demolishedaccording to the Russian authorities, and a man was killed in the village of Koukouïevkain the region of Belgorod.
The increasingly massive use of drones shows that war is changing face: targeted attacks on strategic and civil objectives, conducted with less expensive means than traditional missiles, are becoming a key component of the conflict. Kiev aims to weaken Russian logistical ability by hitting weapons, military infrastructure and command centers depositswhile Moscow seems to respond by targeting Energy systems and Ukrainian critical infrastructures.
Macron: “No peace that is a capitulation”
While the war continues on the field, diplomacy moves caution. The French president Emmanuel Macron said that Any negotiation must not translate into a kiev surrenderunderlining that only Ukraine can decide the terms of dialogue with Moscow.
Macron’s words seem indirectly to Donald Trumpwho said he wanted to negotiate directly with Putin to end the war. But the fear of many European leaders is that a hasty agreement can sacrifice Ukraine’s independence and safety in the name of a fragile compromise.
Munich’s match: between diplomacy and internal tensions
Zelensky is expected to Monkwhere he will meet for the first time exponents of the new American administration, including the vice president JD Vance. The summit arrives in a delicate moment: the United States must decide if and how Continue military aid to Kievwhile Europe is called to strengthen its role in the safety of the continent.
Parallel, Trump has announced a secret meeting between high Russian, Ukrainian and American officialsbut Kiev denied any intention of sitting at the table with Moscow without first having concrete guarantees by the western allies.
An uncertain scenario: between war and diplomacy
The attack on Chernobyl and Ukrainian drones on Belgorod show that the conflict remains far from a solution. If on the one hand, international pressures are growing for a negotiation, on the other both Moscow and Kiev seem willing to maintain a position of strength.
War is no longer fought only on the field, but also in terms of public perception: affect symbols like Chernobyl Or involving the Russian civilian population can be seen as part of a strategy to influence the international debate. But in such an uncertain context, every false step could even remove the prospect of stable peace even more.
In the photo, the damage to one of the shelter of the Cernobyl plant
