Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has urged international partners to respond seriously to Russia’s ongoing attacks, which he claims undermine global efforts to end the war.
In his evening address, Zelenskyy highlighted the continued threat posed by Russian forces, particularly through large-scale drone assaults.
“Last night, Russia launched 172 attack drones, more than 100 of which were Shaheds,” Zelenskyy reported. “Large-scale drone assaults persist daily, alongside missile threats and ballistic missile strikes.
It should be clear to our partners that these Russian attacks target not just our people, but also all international efforts and diplomacy aimed at ending this war.”
Zelenskyy emphasized that these strikes were aimed at disrupting any efforts for peace, targeting those who seek an end to the conflict. “It’s impossible to ignore the hundreds of Shaheds fired every night. We expect a strong response.
We are hoping for action. An assertive reaction is needed, especially from the United States, Europe, and all those who have supported diplomacy,” he said.
He further stated that Russia must be forced into peace, stressing that only coercion would be effective. “For some time now, America’s proposal for an unconditional ceasefire has been on the table without an adequate response from Russia. This explains a lot. If real pressure had been applied to Russia, a ceasefire could have already been reached.”
Zelenskyy also praised international partners who have advocated for new sanctions against Russia in response to the ongoing attacks.
In addition, the Ukrainian president spoke about his discussions with Oleksandr Syrskyi, the Commander-in-Chief of Ukraine’s Armed Forces, regarding the situation on the front lines and in areas where Ukrainian forces are operating on Russian territory.
He commended Ukrainian soldiers’ resilience, particularly in preventing Russian advances into Sumy and Kharkiv Oblasts.
“We remain active in preventing the occupier from entering Sumy and Kharkiv. I salute all of our soldiers for their resilience, from Kursk Oblast to the southern fronts,” Zelenskyy said.
