Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky condemned Russia and its leader Vladimir Putin on Friday following two deadly aerial attacks that killed at least 12 people, as Moscow intensifies strikes during the harsh winter months. The attacks, which targeted the southern city of Zaporizhzhia and Zelensky's hometown of Kryvyi Rig, underscored the continued escalation in the nearly three-year conflict.

Civilian Toll Mounts

In Zaporizhzhia, 10 people were killed and 24 injured, including children as young as four months, after a Russian strike ignited a car garage and service station, according to governor Ivan Fedorov. In Kryvyi Rig, two people died and 17 were wounded, including a six-year-old boy, as a three-story building and nearby homes were reduced to rubble.

"Thousands of such strikes carried out by Russia during this war make it absolutely clear that Putin does not need real peace," Zelensky wrote on Telegram. He emphasized that force is the only path to resisting Russian aggression and achieving lasting peace.

Military Developments

Russia has continued to gain ground in eastern Ukraine amid its pre-winter offensive. Moscow announced the capture of two villages near critical supply hubs, signaling incremental but strategic advances in the grinding conflict. Ukraine’s forces, outmanned and outgunned, have faced mounting challenges as winter hampers counteroffensive efforts.

International Dynamics and Uncertainty

The attacks come as questions loom over future U.S. support for Ukraine, particularly with former President Donald Trump poised to return to the White House. Trump has criticized U.S. military aid to Kyiv and claimed he could resolve the war within 24 hours, though he has not provided specific details. His selection of Keith Kellogg, a skeptic of extensive U.S. involvement in Ukraine, as his Ukraine envoy has heightened Kyiv’s concerns about potential pressure to make territorial concessions.

Zelensky is expected to travel to Paris this weekend for the reopening of Notre Dame Cathedral and may seek a meeting with Trump to discuss U.S. support. Meanwhile, the outgoing Biden administration announced an additional $725 million in military aid for Ukraine earlier this week.

Outlook

As the conflict deepens and the prospect of negotiations looms, the stakes are high for Ukraine, with its leadership navigating both battlefield realities and the shifting dynamics of international support. For now, the intensifying violence and the uncertainty of future alliances cast a shadow over any immediate prospects for peace.