KYIV — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has intensified appeals to Western allies for additional air defence systems, warning that Russia is exploiting shifting global focus to escalate its bombardment across Ukraine. In separate phone calls with U.S. President Donald Trump and French President Emmanuel Macron on October 12, Zelensky pressed for advanced missile systems and the strengthening of Ukraine’s long‑range defence capabilities. “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 discussion with Macron.
Diplomatic talks aimed at ending Russia’s more than three‑year invasion have stalled in recent months, while Moscow has stepped up its air attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure. The renewed strikes have left hundreds of thousands without power as the country prepares for another harsh winter. Zelensky’s call with Trump—the second in two days—focused on enhancing Ukraine’s operational readiness. “We agreed with President Trump that our teams, our military would handle everything we discussed,” Zelensky noted, though he declined to provide details. The White House has yet to issue an official comment.
Kyiv has been urging Washington to supply long‑range Tomahawk cruise missiles, a request the U.S. administration says remains under consideration. However, Moscow warned that such deliveries would dangerously escalate the conflict. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov cautioned that Russia could interpret any launch of these missiles as a potential nuclear threat. Early on October 12, Russia carried out another wave of missile and drone attacks targeting multiple Ukrainian regions, killing one person and injuring more than a dozen others. Zelensky condemned the assaults as “even more vile,” citing the deliberate targeting of civilian areas and critical infrastructure. Since launching its full‑scale invasion in February 2022,labelled a “special military operation” by Moscow, Russia has seized roughly a fifth of Ukrainian territory. The war has caused tens of thousands of casualties, widespread devastation, and forced millions of Ukrainians to flee their homes.