Media blunder triggers Medvedev’s meltdown and premature departure

-

August 25, 2025

Aug 25 (Jowhar)-Madaxweynaha Dowlada Koonfur Galbeed Mudane Cabdicasiis Xasan Maxamed Laftagareen ayaa Aqalka Madaxtooyada Magaalada Baydhabo kulan Kula qaatay.

Israeli strike on Gaza hospital results in at least 15 fatalities

By

-

August 25, 2025

Israel hits Gaza hospital, killing at least 15 people — A Palestinian youth stands on a street strewn with rubble following an explosion in the Saftawi neighbourhood, west of Jabalia in northern Gaza

The Tragedy at Nasser Hospital: A Haunting Chapter in Gaza’s Endless Struggle

In the gray predawn hours of a fraught morning, the walls of Nasser Hospital in Gaza shook with the sound of explosions, transforming a place of healing into a theater of devastation. By the time the dust settled, at least 15 souls had been lost, among them three journalists—storytellers who risked everything to shed light on a conflict that sees too little illumination. The human cost of war was made painfully real once again, this time inside the fragile sanctum of a hospital.

For residents of Gaza, Nasser Hospital is more than brick and mortar—it is a lifeline amidst chaos, a beacon where hope flickers in the face of relentless hardship. Yet on this morning, that hope was brutalized.

Meet the Fallen: Chroniclers Silenced in the Line of Duty

The Palestinian health authorities confirmed the grim toll, their voices laden with sorrow but tempered by a resolve to document the truth. Among those killed was Hussam al-Masri, a cameraman whose lens had tirelessly captured the stories of resilience amid the rubble. Al-Masri was a contractor for Reuters, a trusted name in global journalism. His commitment illustrates the perilous tightrope journalists walk daily in conflict zones.

Another victim, Mohammad Salama, was an esteemed journalist with Al Jazeera, the Qatar-based network known for its rigorous, sometimes contentious reporting from the region. Salama’s dedication to bearing witness cost him his life, a poignant reminder of the peril inherent in frontline reporting. Photographer Hatem Khaled, also linked to Reuters, survived but was wounded—his injury a stark testament to the indiscriminate nature of modern warfare.

“Journalists like Hussam, Mohammad, and Hatem don’t just report events—they humanize a conflict that media filters too often reduce to numbers and political rhetoric,” said Lina Khalil, a media analyst based in Amman. “Their deaths are a loss not only to journalism but to the global community that depends on their voices to understand what is really happening.”

The Anatomy of a Hospital Strike: Questions That Demand Answers

What does it mean when a hospital—one of the last protected spaces under international law—is targeted in a conflict? The Nasser Hospital strike is part of a horrifying pattern that has echoed throughout this war, raising urgent questions about the rules of engagement and the protection of civilians.

According to the World Health Organization, attacks on healthcare facilities in conflict zones have surged in recent years, with Gaza among the most heavily affected areas. Between 2018 and 2023, more than 600 medical personnel worldwide were killed or injured; hospitals have been hit dozens of times.

As you read this, imagine the chaos inside Nasser Hospital during the strike. Nurses clutching terrified children, doctors rushing to the emergency room amid rubble and screams, families bending over the wounded with prayers on their lips. “It’s not just infrastructure,” says Dr. Samir Abu Yusuf, a physician who has worked in Gazan hospitals for years. “It’s a destruction of humanity’s last refuge.”

Voices from Gaza: A Community Wounded in Body and Spirit

On the crowded streets near the hospital, local residents recount the horror through tear-streaked faces and trembling hands. “We heard the blast, and then the screams,” recalls Fatima, a mother of three who lives two blocks away. “They came to help people heal, not to be targets themselves. How do we feel safe anymore?”

The assault on Nasser Hospital has reverberated far beyond the immediate deaths. Psychologists working in Gaza warn of a deepening mental health crisis, as trauma and grief burden a population caught in an unyielding conflict. Children who should be in school are learning fear and loss, a distressing backdrop for childhood.

“This is not just a strike on a building,” says Amal Said, a community organizer in Gaza City. “It’s a strike on our dignity, on our right to live and heal.”

A Global Lens: What This Attack Tells Us About War and Media

In an age when information flows instantly across continents, the deaths of journalists at Nasser Hospital resonate powerfully worldwide. Journalists, by cross-cultural professional pact, are meant to be noncombatants, protected under international laws. But in modern asymmetrical warfare—where urban centers have become battlegrounds and media attention a strategic tool—their safety is perilously compromised.

The international community watches with a mix of outrage and helplessness. The United Nations has repeatedly condemned attacks on civilian infrastructure in Gaza, but the cycle of violence continues unabated.

“This is a stark reminder that the rules designed to safeguard humanity in war are too often ignored,” notes Dr. Helena Fischer, a human rights expert based in Geneva. “Each wound inflicted on healthcare workers and journalists fractures the collective conscience of humanity.”

Reflecting on the Cost: What Are We Willing to Lose?

What does the world owe to those who risk life and limb to tell the stories that are otherwise silenced? How do we reckon with the fact that even hospitals, sacrosanct in theory, become scenes of carnage? As you reflect on the tragedy at Nasser Hospital, consider this: narratives like those captured by al-Masri and Salama aren’t just news—they are lifelines for empathy, understanding, and potentially peace.

In every war, there are no winners, only degrees of loss. But there is also the enduring hope carried by those who believe that highlighting the human cost can wake the world to action. For Gaza’s besieged people, for the journalists who chronicle their survival, for all of us who seek truth amid turmoil—the price of silence is too great.

Moving Forward: The Way Ahead

The tragedy at Nasser Hospital demands more than mourning; it calls for concrete actions:

International pressure must intensify to uphold the protection of healthcare facilities and journalists under international law.
Humanitarian corridors need to be guaranteed to allow injured civilians access to safe treatment.
Global audiences must demand nuanced, empathetic reporting that transcends stereotypes and brings to light the humanity behind headlines.

The death toll in Gaza today serves as a somber reminder—a call to remember the fragility of peace and the profound human cost when it shatters. It challenges us all to look beyond politics and statistics to the individuals whose lives, voices, and dreams hang in the balance.

As you close this story, I invite you to question: What role can we, as a global community, play in ensuring that places of healing never again become grounds of suffering? And how do we honor the courageous souls, like Hussam al-Masri and Mohammad Salama, whose stories might now go untold—but whose legacy demands that we bear witness?

Because in remembering them, we reclaim our shared humanity.

Maxkamadda Ciidamadda oo xukun dil ah ku fulisay laba Shabaab ah

By

-

August 25, 2025

Aug 25 (Jowhar) Maxkamadda Coidamadda Qalabka sida ayaa maanta xukun dil Toogasha ah ku fuliso laba xubnood oo ka tirsan kooxda Al-shabaab, kuwaasoo hore dilal u geystay.

Israel oo sheegtay iney duqeymo ku burburisay madaxtooyada Sanca

By

-

August 25, 2025

Aug 25 (Jowhar) Ra’iisul Wasaaraha Israa’iil Benjamin Netanyahu ayaa sheegay in weerarrada cirka ee Israa’iil ku qaaday Sanca ay ku burburiyeen qasriga madaxtooyada ee magaalada Sanca, iyo sidoo kale xarunta korontada.

Washington National Guard to Start Carrying Firearms

By

-

August 25, 2025

Trump plans to deploy National Guard in Chicago - reports — Members of the National Guard patrol near diners on 14th Street in Washington, DC

When Washington’s Streets Turned Into a Showdown: A Tale of Troops, Tensions, and Turf Wars

Picture this: the streets of Washington, D.C., a city renowned for its iconic monuments and political gravitas, transformed overnight—not by celebrations or protests, but by the steady, watchful presence of National Guard troops. It was a scene reminiscent of a city on edge, caught between calm and chaos, between law and order and the looming shadow of unrest.

This is the story of a bold, contentious move by then-President Donald Trump, whose drive to clamp down on what he described as a crime wave would change the face of America’s capital—and potentially other cities—in ways that sparked fierce debate nationwide.

The Arrival of Armed National Guard Troops: A New Chapter in a City’s Story

For more than two weeks, hundreds of National Guard troops had quietly mingled with the rhythms of the capital’s daily life—unarmed, their presence more advisory than confrontational. But then, a pivotal shift: as of last night, a contingent of these troops was officially authorized to carry weapons—M17 pistols or M4 rifles—as told to me by two insiders privy to the operation who wished to remain unnamed. This change heralded a more assertive stance, signaling that the federal government viewed the situation not as a mere law enforcement challenge but a security imperative.

In a statement from the Guard’s Joint Task Force-DC, the personnel committed themselves to a code that resonates even in the most fraught moments: force would only be a ‘last resort,’ reserved exclusively for ‘an imminent threat of death or serious bodily harm.’ Yet, the image of troops on patrol, weapons drawn and ready, stirred up anxieties among residents and commentators alike.

“It feels like a city preparing for war rather than peace,”

shared Marie Johnson, a lifelong D.C. resident and local shop owner. “I understand the need for safety, but there’s a difference between protection and intimidation.”

Her words tap into the crux of the matter. How much security is enough? And when does it start to fray the delicate fabric of civil liberties? These are questions that countless Americans wrestled with as Washington balanced on this razor’s edge.

Beyond the Capital: The Shadow Looms Over Chicago and Baltimore

President Trump didn’t stop with the capital. In speeches and social media outbursts, he floated the idea of extending the National Guard deployment to cities like Chicago and Baltimore—two metropolises with storied histories, vibrant cultures, and marked political leanings toward Democratic leadership.

In Chicago, where the winds off Lake Michigan sweep through neighborhoods steeped in jazz, food, and community resilience, the suggestion drew fire. Hakeem Jeffries, then Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, slammed Trump’s plan as an unconstitutional overreach and partisan grandstanding.

“There’s no lawful basis, no genuine emergency that justifies federal troops patrolling the streets of Chicago,” Jeffries told CNN’s “State of the Union.” “This is manufactured crisis for political gain.”

Indeed, statistics from the Chicago Police Department painted a different picture. Murders had actually declined over the past year—a glimmer of hope piercing narratives of decline. JB Pritzker, Illinois’ Democratic governor, echoed this sentiment, labeling any National Guard deployment unnecessary.

Meanwhile, in Baltimore, a city with a proud maritime heritage and a soul shaped by art, music, and a tenacious spirit, the conversation was equally charged. Despite falling gun violence rates and the fewest homicides in over half a century (84 so far that year, according to the mayor’s office), Trump warned Governor Wes Moore he was ready to intervene if “help” was required.

Local veteran and community activist Damon Harris sees the president’s words as a misunderstood signal. “Baltimore has suffered real pain, real loss, but our progress is real, too. Military boots aren’t the answer—community programs, police reform, and economic investment are.”

Between Authority and Autonomy: The Constitutional Chess Game

The legalities tethering the president’s power to deploy troops domestically are complex, woven with historical precedents and constitutional provisions.

Under Title 10 of the U.S. Code, the commander-in-chief holds the power to deploy National Guard forces to:

Repel invasions
Suppress rebellions
Execute the law—under certain conditions

Yet, this authority is far from absolute when it comes to intervening in states without their consent, especially in cities governed by Democrats where local laws sometimes clash with federal policies—take sanctuary cities, for example.

Trump had previously invoked Section 12406 earlier in the year to justify sending troops to California amid protests, bypassing Governor Gavin Newsom’s objections. Applying similar logic to Chicago and Baltimore, however, raised numerous red flags.

Legal experts predicted fierce court battles would erupt if such deployments were attempted without state approval, highlighting an ongoing tension between federal power and state sovereignty.

The Bigger Picture: Crime, Politics, and the Pulse of a Nation

This unfolding drama raises profound questions that ripple far beyond the immediate headlines.

What does “security” really mean in a democracy?
How do we balance safety with freedom, order with justice?
Can deploying armed troops in American cities be a viable solution—or is it a symptom of deeper divisions and mistrust?

For many Americans, the presence of troops on city streets conjures memories of unrest, crackdowns, and unequal application of justice. So it’s no surprise that reactions from policymakers, communities, and experts have ranged from cautious support to outright condemnation.

As Marie Johnson, the shop owner from D.C., poignantly asks,

“When does protection become oppression? And who decides?”

Inviting Reflection: What Does the Future Hold?

As you read this, imagine yourself standing on the corner of Pennsylvania Avenue, or walking along Baltimore’s Inner Harbor, or savoring a Chicago deep-dish slice in a bustling neighborhood. What do you feel? Safety? Tension? Hope? Fear?

In an era marked by polarized politics and social fragmentation, the answers aren’t simple. This story—of armed troops, politics clashing with policy, and cities fighting their demons—is a microcosm of challenges that face democracies worldwide.

Will future solutions come in the form of more boots on the ground? Or will communities forge new paths through dialogue, investment, and justice reform?

History tells us that how we answer these questions shapes the soul of a nation.

So, dear reader, as the dust settles on this episode of America’s ongoing experiment, I leave you with this: in the quest for peace and order, what price are we willing to pay, and who are we willing to become?

Medics report at least 25 fatalities in Israeli attacks on Gaza

By

-

August 25, 2025

At least 25 killed in Israeli strikes in Gaza, say medics — Palestinians extend their empty pots to receive cooked rice from a charity kitchen in Gaza City

Gaza’s Quiet Crisis: The Human Cost Behind the Headlines

In the tender early hours of the morning, amidst the cold whispers of dawn, something harrowing was unfolding over the skies of Gaza. Israeli airstrikes ripped through the fragile calm, leaving tents—fragile shelters for those displaced—reduced to rubble and despair. At least 25 lives were claimed that day, Palestinians seeking only refuge and food caught in the crossfire of a long-standing conflict that seems more entrenched and tragic with each passing moment.

Where does one begin to capture the grief embedded in the debris and dust of southern Gaza’s Khan Younis? This area, now home to hundreds of thousands of internally displaced Gazans, has transformed into a sprawling tent city. Families, uprooted from their homes, huddle together in what little protection they can muster. Yet, those places of refuge became targets—

“We thought these tents were safe havens,” murmured Layla, a mother of three who lost her neighbor in the strikes. “But the sky offers no mercy here.”

Over half of those killed in Khan Younis were women and children, faces full of innocent hopes extinguished prematurely. Just kilometres away, in the north near the Zikim crossing—a lifeline for humanitarian convoys—five more lives were stolen by gunfire as desperate civilians sought aid. The scene near the UN and other agency checkpoints, normally places emblematic of relief, turned violent and deadly.

The Shadow of Famine Looming Large

One day before these tragic strikes, a damning report from the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC)—the world’s foremost authority on food crises—sent shockwaves across international corridors. For the first time ever in the Middle East, IPC declared that Gaza City’s 2 million residents are gripped by famine.

Famine is not just a word here; it is a spectral reality crawling, invisible and unstoppable, through the winding alleys of Gaza’s neighborhoods. To put it in staggering numbers: nearly half a million people, a quarter of Gaza’s population, suffer from catastrophic hunger that threatens to snuff out their lives like fragile candles in the desert wind.

Fatima, a volunteer at a local charity kitchen in Gaza City, describes the scene with quiet sorrow:

“Mothers come with empty pots, children with hollow eyes. There is no dignity left when the hunger is this deep.”

Famine, compounded by a brutal blockade lasting over two years, displacement on a massive scale, and the dismantling of Gaza’s agricultural infrastructure, challenges the very essence of survival. The scarcity of food isn’t simply a facet of war—it has become a weapon wielded with cold precision.

A Delicate Balance of Aid and Hostilities

International aid efforts, still reeling from challenges of access and security, seem a fragile lifeline at best. Relief agencies have struggled to get sufficient food supplies into Gaza, despite Israel’s limited easing of some restrictions and newly sanctioned aid corridors. The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, backed by the US, has tried to usher in aid supplies, but the road to relief has been fraught with complications—

Chaotic scenes at aid distribution points
Security threats causing delays and dangerous encounters
Reports of Israeli forces firing warning shots at civilians seeking help

Ahmed, a driver who delivers humanitarian aid, recalls one such incident:

“People were pushing forward, desperate to get a piece of bread or a bottle of water. Suddenly, gunfire echoed. It was terrifying. We’re helping these people survive, and yet, survival feels impossible.”

Israel’s defense asserts that warning shots are intended to shield troops from perceived threats, but for many Gazans, this adds another layer of fear and uncertainty under skies that should bear the impartial light of day.

Political Struggles Amidst Human Suffering

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office swiftly dismissed the IPC’s famine declaration as “an outright lie,” painting it instead as propaganda from Hamas, the governing authority in Gaza. They blame Hamas for the plight of hostages and insist that sufficient aid has been permitted during the ongoing conflict.

Yet, the humanitarian narrative told by aid workers, local families, and independent agencies tells a different story—one of a people trapped between a rock and a hard place, craving not political victories but simple human necessities: food, safety, dignity.

The ground offensive in Gaza City is reportedly imminent, with Israeli forces securing the city’s outskirts and controlling strategic neighborhoods like Zeitoun. The very mention of an invasion on Gaza City sends ripples of anxiety through its streets. Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders), operating clinics on the edge of the city, notes a surge in fleeing families seeking refuge from relentless bombardments.

“Our clinics are overwhelmed,” said Dr. Kareem Hassan, an MSF physician. “Every day we treat more victims, more displaced. Our own staff are forced to move frequently just to stay safe.”

The Wider Lens: What This Means for the World

Gaza is a microcosm of an ever-widening global challenge—how do we protect civilians amid conflicts, where humanitarian catastrophes spiral into crises of hunger, displacement, and loss of hope? The faces behind these numbers—women cradling children, elders leaning on weary shoulders—are reminders that war’s true cost extends far beyond borders or political calculations.

When aid is politicized and access restricted, we must ask ourselves: What does it mean for humanity if we allow entire cities to perish from starvation? How much suffering will it take for the global community to shake off paralysis and act decisively?

The story of Gaza—its tents shattered by strikes, its kitchens struggling to feed famished mouths, its people haunted by displacement and fear—is more than news. It’s an urgent call to empathy, to awareness, and to action.

Where Do We Go From Here?

As readers far removed from Gaza’s strip of land, it’s tempting to feel powerless in the face of catastrophe. But power lies in understanding, in raising voices, and fostering sustained international pressure for ceasefires and aid corridors. It lies in demanding accountability, and in insisting that this strangled enclave sees the light of peace.

For those born into conflict, each passing day is a precious gift contested by violence and hunger. And for the rest of the world, their fate should not be a distant abstract tragedy but a sobering reminder of the work we have to do—chasing hope, delivering relief, and re-centering humanity in the heart of geopolitics.

Have you paused recently to ask what famine looks like through the eyes of a child in Gaza? To imagine what it means to find food, shelter, and safety not as rights, but unreachable dreams? In hearing stories like these, perhaps we find not despair, but fuel for compassion and change.

The tents may fall, the bombs may fall, but empathy must rise—until peace and plenty return to Gaza’s weary streets.

Reports indicate Trump intends to send National Guard troops to Chicago

By

-

August 25, 2025

National Guard on the Horizon: A New Chapter in Chicago’s Tumultuous Struggle for Safety

Chicago, a city of soaring skylines and vibrant neighborhoods, a mosaic of cultures and a crucible of American urban challenges, now faces another potential upheaval. Whispers from Washington hint at a deepening federal intervention: thousands of National Guard troops poised to step onto Chicago’s streets. This isn’t merely a story about troop deployments—it’s a vivid tableau of politics, public safety, and the very soul of a city grappling with violence and polarized ideals.

In the Eye of the Storm: Unpacking the Federal Strategy

For weeks, according to multiple reports from The Washington Post and other major outlets, the Trump administration has been quietly crafting plans to send several thousand National Guard members to Chicago by as soon as September. The Pentagon, traditionally a bastion of secrecy, neither confirms nor denies the specifics, maintaining a cloak of caution that only fuels speculation.

“The Department is always planning,” one defense official shared, preferring anonymity. “We continually coordinate with agency partners about protecting federal assets and personnel.” Yet the ambiguity surrounding this operation says as much about Jenga-like political dynamics as it does about law enforcement strategy.

This move follows similar deployments, most notably in June to Los Angeles when 4,000 California National Guardsmen and 700 active-duty Marines were sent into the city, despite protests from the state government. And now, Washington, DC, has witnessed a military presence bolstered to the point where troops are reportedly arming themselves in public spaces.

“We’re going to make our cities very, very safe.”

President Donald Trump’s words carry a resolute promise to transform urban safety across major cities. Speaking from the White House, he singled out Chicago and New York, promising federal muscle to combat crime. “Chicago will be our next,” Trump declared.

But safety is a word laden with meaning—and in cities where neighborhoods are stitched tightly with histories of systemic inequities and social activism, “safety” is seldom uncomplicated.

Chicago’s Political and Social Fabric: At the Heart of the Debate

Chicago’s political leaders were swift to push back. Democrat leaders, including Illinois Governor JB Pritzker and Mayor Brandon Johnson, rejected troop deployments outright, framing them as politically charged and counterproductive moves.

“Donald Trump and MAGA Republicans are trying to paint their party as one of ‘law and order.’ That couldn’t be further from the truth,” Governor Pritzker wrote on X (formerly Twitter), his words echoing across a city skeptical of militarized approaches.

Mayor Johnson voiced frustration at the lack of collaboration: “We have received no formal communication from the administration regarding any plans,” he said in a statement to WBEZ Chicago. “Such action would be uncoordinated, uncalled for, and unsound.”

Chicago is no stranger to violence. The grim statistic of 573 homicides so far in 2024—an 8% drop compared to last year—still casts a long shadow over communities battling gun violence, poverty, and under-resourced services. But for those on the front lines like activists, community organizers, and residents, the question isn’t simply how to stamp out crime—it’s how to do so without fracturing the fragile trust between citizens and those in power.

Voices from the Street

Maria Hernandez, a lifelong South Side resident and community organizer, offers a grounded perspective. “Adding more troops might make some people feel safer,” she says, “but it doesn’t fix the fact that many here don’t trust law enforcement. We need jobs, better schools, and mental health support, not just more boots on the ground.”

Meanwhile, Jason Kim, owner of a local bookstore near Wicker Park, worries about the broader implications. “Chicago’s always been a city of resilience. But when you see history repeating—militarization, protests, tear gas—it raises questions. Are we protecting people or just trying to appear tough for political points?”

The Larger Picture: Crime, Immigration, and the Politics of Fear

This impending deployment also dovetails with the Trump administration’s intensified crackdown on undocumented immigrants through Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The coupling of militarized policing with aggressive immigration enforcement feeds into a larger narrative about security, sovereignty, and American identity.

Yet, as experts like Dr. Leah Simmons, a criminologist at Northwestern University, point out, “There’s little evidence that such large-scale military interventions in urban crime control yield long-term reductions in violence or improved community trust. In fact, they often exacerbate tensions.”

The story unfolding in Chicago is emblematic of a wider trend seen across several major cities — a tug-of-war between federal power and local governance, entwined with racial, social, and political fault lines. And it forces us all to ask: What does true safety look like in a democracy?

Chicago Today: A City at a Crossroads

From the jazz notes drifting out of a Bronzeville concert to the smell of deep-dish pizza wafting beneath the summer skyline, Chicago lives and breathes complexity. It is a place where history lingers palpably in every street corner and community space. And it is precisely in this intricate tapestry that the proposed National Guard deployment threads a delicate, fraught narrative.

How will everyday Chicagoans, who often feel like pawns in larger political games, perceive this move? Will it bring the seismic change promised, or will it deepen divides? And beyond Chicago—what lessons do other cities and nations draw from this unfolding drama?

As night falls over the city of winds, remember this: safety and security are more than the absence of violence—they are the presence of justice, opportunity, and hope. Any strategy that overlooks these essentials risks missing the heartbeat of the communities it claims to protect.

So, dear reader, as we witness this unfolding chapter, ask yourself: In a world increasingly drawn to spectacle and force, how do we reclaim compassion, understanding, and true safety in our cities? Chicago’s story is a mirror—what do you see?

Zelensky pledges to ‘drive Russia toward peace’ and urges negotiations

By

-

August 24, 2025

Zelensky vows to 'push Russia to peace', calls for talks — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky (R) and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney shake hands during their press-conference following talks in Kyiv

Ukraine’s Independence Day: A Luminous Beacon Amidst Shadows of War

On a bright late summer day in Kyiv, as the sun cast golden hues over the historic Sophia Square, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky delivered a message that resonated far beyond the echo of artillery and drone strikes. Marking the 33rd anniversary of Ukraine’s independence, carved out of the ashes of the Soviet Union, Zelensky stood not just as a leader but as a symbol of resilience, hope, and unyielding determination.

“This is how Ukraine strikes when its calls for peace are ignored,” Zelensky said, his voice steady but fierce, addressing a crowd gathered to honor the soldiers who had fallen and those who still fought on the front lines. In a world weary of endless conflict, this Independence Day was unlike any other. It was born of blood and fire and whispered the urgent question haunting millions: can peace be brokered in a war that has dragged on for over four years?

A Ceasefire on the Horizon? Zelensky’s Bold Call for Dialogue

In the midst of celebrations, Zelensky made a statement that startled many: he called for a direct bilateral summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin — a meeting he described as “the most effective way forward.”

“Negotiations between leaders—face to face—offer the real path towards ending this nightmare,” Zelensky said, casting aside the broken diplomatic channels and stalled efforts from international intermediaries. His words came on the heels of recent setbacks: despite an earlier push by then-US President Donald Trump to arrange peace talks, Russia flatly dismissed any immediate summit, branding these overtures as unrealistic and premature.

On the Russian side, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov criticized what he termed Western obstructionism, accusing the West of hunting for excuses to sabotage talks. Lavrov didn’t hold back in his rebuke of Zelensky’s apparent insistence on “demanding an immediate meeting at all costs.” Yet, Zelensky remained undeterred, vowing resolutely, “We will push Russia to peace.”

The Stark Reality: Conflict’s Grim Toll and Tenacious Territory Battles

Behind the rhetoric, the grim reality on the ground remains stark. Tens of thousands of lives have been lost, and the war has morphed into a grinding stalemate in several contested regions, particularly in eastern Ukraine’s Donetsk province.

Yesterday, Russian forces declared they had captured two villages, seizing critical ground. Ukrainian commanders, however, claim to have reclaimed three others, underscoring the deadly tug-of-war over this strategic area. Oleksandr Syrsky, Ukraine’s commander-in-chief, described the situation with measured optimism, yet it’s clear the frontlines are volatile and constantly shifting.

Civilians on both sides endure the brunt of the violence. Just this week, a ballistic missile and a barrage of Iranian-made Shahed drones reportedly struck Ukrainian territory, killing a 47-year-old woman in Dnipropetrovsk. In retaliation, Ukraine launched its own drone strikes deep inside Russian territory, including one near the Kursk Nuclear Power Plant. Although a fire broke out, officials confirmed it was quickly extinguished and there were no casualties or radiation leaks, yet the incident revived fears about the dangers of conflict around nuclear sites.

Drones, Fire, and Rising Tensions: The Modern Face of Warfare

Unmanned drones have become the war’s defining weapon for Ukraine’s comparatively outgunned forces, targeting oil facilities and infrastructure to disrupt Russia’s war machine. Since these drone assaults began, Russia’s fuel prices have surged dramatically. Earlier this week, Russian authorities confirmed downing multiple drones near key cities including Saint Petersburg and the strategic port of Ust-Luga, where a fuel terminal caught fire.

Meanwhile, these attacks have fueled broader anxieties globally about energy security and the fragile nature of infrastructure in conflict zones. The International Atomic Energy Agency has repeatedly sounded alarms over the potential catastrophe of fighting near nuclear plants—fear that feels all too tangible in the shadow of Kursk’s drone strike.

The Human Face of War: Prisons, Prisoners, and Pain

Amid the carnage, small gestures of humanity pierce the fog. Ukraine and Russia recently exchanged 146 prisoners of war and civilians—a poignant reminder of the complex human stories entwined with geopolitics.

At the Independence Day ceremony, Zelensky awarded the Ukrainian Order of Merit to several military personnel and foreign dignitaries, including US envoy Keith Kellogg. With symbolic gravity, the president emphasized that Ukraine, “is not a victim; it is a fighter.”

Global Solidarity and the Promise of Support

Ukraine’s struggle has transcended its borders. Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney, visiting Kyiv, made a stern declaration: “Russia does not get to decide the sovereignty, independence, and liberty of Ukraine.” Norway pledged seven billion kroner (almost $700 million) to help provide Ukraine with additional US Patriot missile defense systems—hardware already stockpiled in Germany and now slated for urgent transfer.

These commitments highlight a tectonic shift in international relations as Western nations become increasingly entwined in Ukraine’s fate, balancing on the knife’s edge of deterrence and escalation.

Looking Ahead: Possibilities and Perils

The territorial map remains fractured. Russia controls approximately one-fifth of Ukraine’s land, including Crimea—a region it annexed in 2014. Despite repeated diplomatic overtures, Putin has consistently rebuffed calls for a ceasefire, leaving the world wondering: how much longer can a war this devastating drag on?

US Vice President JD Vance, speaking from the complex corridors of diplomacy, asserted that Moscow has made “significant concessions” in talks led by Trump, including a form of territorial integrity recognition—a notion that leaves many analysts debating what compromises are truly on the table.

Yet, Vance was careful to temper optimism, admitting, “Of course, all concessions have not been made. The path ahead is treacherous.”

What Does Peace Look Like?

For readers around the globe—whether watching from afar or living close enough to feel the tremors from Kyiv to Moscow—there’s a question worth sitting with: how do we envision peace here? What sacrifices are necessary? And can two nations, so brutalized by conflict, find the courage for reconciliation? Ukraine’s Independence Day reminds us that freedom is brittle, sovereignty is fragile, and peace is earned, not given.

In this era of relentless conflict and geopolitical upheaval, the story of Ukraine is more than headlines or military strategy—it is a testament to the human spirit’s capacity to endure and to hope.

So, as you reflect on these unfolding events, consider this: what role do we all play in supporting peace, justice, and dignity, not just in Ukraine, but in places where oppression and war threaten to silence the dreams of millions? How can courage, resilience, and the pursuit of dialogue—sometimes painful and imperfect—open the door to a more peaceful world?

Xasan Sheekh iyo Axmed Madoobe oo yeeshay wadahadal khadka Tilifoonka ah

By

-

August 24, 2025

Aug 24 (Jowhar) Warar hoose oo aan helay ayaa sheegaya in khadka telefoonka ay ku wada hadleen Madaxweyne Xasan Sheekh Maxamuud iyo Madaxweynaha Jubbaland Axmed Madoobe.