Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has renewed calls for stronger international military support, warning that Russia is exploiting the world’s diverted attention to escalate its assaults on Ukraine.
Speaking on Sunday, Zelensky said Moscow was “taking advantage” of the global focus on the Middle East and domestic concerns in other countries to ramp up air strikes on Ukraine’s infrastructure.
Diplomatic attempts to end Russia’s three-and-a-half-year invasion have largely stalled in recent months, leaving Ukraine vulnerable as it braces for another harsh winter. Russia has renewed its campaign against Ukraine’s energy network, disrupting electricity supplies for hundreds of thousands of citizens.
In separate phone calls with US President Donald Trump and French President Emmanuel Macron, Zelensky appealed for more air defense systems, advanced missiles, and enhanced “long-range capabilities” for his forces.
“Russia is now taking advantage of the moment—the fact that the Middle East and domestic issues in every country are getting maximum attention,” Zelensky said in a statement following his conversation with Macron.
Trump, who met Russian President Vladimir Putin in August without securing any peace agreement, held another discussion with Zelensky on Sunday—their second in as many days. During the call, both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to reinforcing Ukraine’s “defence capabilities.”
“We agreed with President Trump that our teams, our military, would handle everything we discussed,” Zelensky noted, offering few details about the specific measures planned. The White House has not yet issued a comment on the exchange.
‘Vile’ Strikes
In recent weeks, Zelensky has urged Washington to approve the transfer of long-range Tomahawk cruise missiles, a request that remains under review. Russia has reacted sharply to the proposal, warning that such a move could severely strain Moscow’s relations with the United States and escalate the conflict further.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov reiterated that warning on Sunday, cautioning that Russia might interpret any Tomahawk missile launches as nuclear threats. “Just imagine: a long-range missile takes off and flies, and we know it could be nuclear-armed. What is the Russian Federation to think?” Peskov said during an interview with state television.
Early Sunday morning, Russia launched a new round of air strikes across Ukraine, killing one civilian and injuring more than a dozen others in at least four regions, according to local authorities. In his call with Macron, Zelensky described the latest wave of attacks as “even more vile,” underscoring the urgency of bolstering Ukraine’s air defense systems.
Russia’s full-scale invasion, launched in February 2022 under the pretext of a “special military operation,” was intended to demilitarize Ukraine and halt NATO’s eastward expansion. However, Kyiv and its Western allies have condemned the campaign as an unlawful attempt to seize Ukrainian territory.
The prolonged war has resulted in tens of thousands of deaths on both sides and left widespread destruction across Ukrainian cities and towns. Millions of Ukrainians have been displaced since 2022, while Russia now occupies nearly a fifth of Ukraine’s land—much of it devastated by continuous fighting.
What you should know
President Zelensky is urging Western allies for more air defense systems and long-range missiles as Russia intensifies its air strikes on Ukraine’s power grid.
The renewed offensive comes amid fading global attention and stalled diplomatic efforts, leaving Ukraine to face another winter under siege.
