Volodymyr Zelensky claims that Putin is trying to break Ukraine's resistance, but he can be forced to make peace. It calls for urgent missile and air defense support before winter arrives.
Speaking at the 71st Annual Session of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly in Ljubljana, 10-13 October [stolicy Słowenii]Zelensky noted that the war in the Middle East is finally coming to an end, which shows that despite the enormous suffering, peace is possible.
However, he added that Russia's war in Europe remains the biggest source of global instability.
— Putin can be forced to make peace — just like any other terrorist. Even Hamas is now preparing to release the hostages [zostali już uwolnieni]. If this is possible, Putin can also be forced to restore peace
Zelensky said.
European country leaders during the 7th European Political Community (EPC) Summit, Copenhagen, Denmark, October 2, 2025.MADS CLAUS RASMUSSEN / PAP
Ukraine's president called on NATO members to take quick action, emphasizing the need to strengthen Ukraine's air defense and long-range missile capabilities before winter arrives.
— Putin hopes to use this terror before winter comes. We cannot allow this. That is why I am calling on you to raise your voice in your parliaments and governments to strengthen the air and missile defense that we need. Decisions regarding systems and missiles must be made in the coming weeks, Zelensky said.
The Ukrainian president also drew attention to his recent talks with US President Donald Trump, during which they discussed Patriot systems, Tomahawk missiles, support for energy infrastructure and limiting purchases of Russian oil.
— Even if Hungary [wciąż utrzymujące bliskie relacje gospodarcze i polityczne z Rosją] they claim that it helps them in the elections, but in the long run it undermines the security of their country and Europe. Every billion counts for Putin. You cannot be part of the free world and at the same time support those who want to destroy it, continued the President of Ukraine.
On Sunday, Ukraine's president called on his Western allies to increase air defense support, warning that Russia is “taking advantage” of the shift in global attention to step up attacks on Ukraine.
In separate phone calls with Trump and French President Emmanuel Macron, Zelensky appealed for additional missiles and help to strengthen Ukraine's “long-range capabilities.”
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— Russia is taking advantage of the current situation: the fact that Middle East affairs and the internal problems of individual countries are now attracting maximum attention, Zelensky said in summing up the conversation with Macron.
Donald Trump spoke to Zelensky for the second time in two days on Sunday.
“President Trump and I have agreed that our teams, our armed forces, will take care of everything that we talked about,” Zelensky said, without going into details.
Zelensky recently stepped up his calls for Washington to provide Ukraine with long-range Tomahawk cruise missiles — a request the White House is still reviewing.
Moscow warned that such deliveries would cause a serious escalation of the conflict. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov repeated that threat on Sunday, saying Russia could interpret any Tomahawk missile launch as potentially nuclear. This is the Kremlin's mantra repeated every time Kiev receives a new weapons system or is authorized to use it.
— Imagine: a long-range missile takes off and flies, and we know that it can be armed with a nuclear warhead. What should Russia think? Peskov said on state television.
In a telephone conversation with Macron, Zelensky described Moscow's latest missile and drone attacks as “even more vile.”
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