Russia Resumes Bombardments Across Ukraine After 3-Day Truce Expires
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · May 18
Russia Resumes Bombardments Across Ukraine After 3-Day Truce Expires
6 articles · Updated · The New York Times · May 18
Midnight Monday brought renewed Russian bombardments of towns and cities across Ukraine as a three-day truce expired, while Ukraine restarted strikes on Russian oil facilities and military production sites.
Front-line combat never fully stopped during the pause, underscoring that the cease-fire had little effect beyond a brief formal halt in some attacks.
Kyiv illustrated the pattern last week: a Russian strike destroyed an apartment building, and rescue workers recovered at least 24 bodies, including two children, by Friday.
The renewed fighting fits a broader pattern in which cease-fires in Ukraine and elsewhere reduce violence only briefly unless backed by political compromises that address the conflict itself.
If cease-fires are just for show, what new diplomatic tools can achieve lasting peace in modern conflicts?
As the liberal world order fails, can 'cultural realism' prevent a new era of widespread global conflict?
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Ceasefire Breakdown and Drone Warfare: Ukraine-Russia Conflict Intensifies in May 2026
Overview
The report highlights how a U.S.-brokered ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine from May 9 to 11, 2026, enabled a major humanitarian exchange, including a 205-for-205 prisoner swap and the return of 528 fallen Ukrainian soldiers, with the United Arab Emirates and the ICRC playing key roles. Despite these efforts and President Zelenskyy's hope for a broader agreement, the ceasefire quickly collapsed, leading to renewed fighting. This sequence shows that while international mediation can achieve important humanitarian outcomes, it has not yet succeeded in stopping the conflict or building lasting trust between the parties.