President Volodymyr Zelensky has expressed his frustration with the war in Ukraine after Donald Trump rejected his pleas for Tomahawk missiles.
The Ukrainian leader urged the European Union and the United States to put more pressure on Vladimir Putin after overnight Russian missiles killed six people, including two children.
Sharing videos and pictures of the devastation caused by Russia’s strikes, he wrote: ‘Another night proving that Russia does not feel enough pressure for dragging out the war.
‘Our air defense forces, mobile fire groups, and drone interceptor crews were working all night and into the morning. Ordinary cities have been under fire, primarily our energy infrastructure, but many residential buildings have also been hit.’
He added: ‘Russian words about diplomacy mean nothing as long as the Russian leadership does not feel critical problems. And this can be ensured only through sanctions, long-range capabilities, and coordinated diplomacy among all our partners.
‘It is high time the European Union adopted a strong sanctions package. We also count on strong sanctions measures from the United States and the G7, from all those who seek peace.’
He also said the world must not ‘remain silent now’ and called for a ‘united response to Russia’s vile strikes.’
The strikes, which lasted most of Tuesday night, targeted residential buildings and power infrastructure in several regions, including Kyiv and Zaporizhzhia, where fires continued to burn through the night.
Air raid alerts continued to sound through the morning. It has been reported that the children killed were a six-month-old baby and a 12-year-old girl.
Emergency services rescued people across multiple regions after drone debris sparked fires in residential buildings.
Ukrainian officials said air defence units intercepted most of the missiles and drones launched by Russia, but that several made direct hits, leaving neighbourhoods without power.
The attacks are part of a renewed Russian campaign targeting energy facilities ahead of winter, mirroring last year’s devastating strikes that left millions in the dark.
Zelensky’s plea came as frustration mounts in Kyiv over Trump’s decision to pull back from the Tomahawk deal, which Ukrainian officials said would have aided their efforts to strike deep behind Russian lines.
Depending on the variant, the long-range missiles can strike targets at a range of between 1,000 and 1,600 miles. It has been suggested that a modest supply could allow the Ukrainian army to inflict significant damage to key Russian infrastructure.
Trump initially suggested he might provide them if Moscow continued its offensive, but reversed course after meeting with Zelensky on Friday. He said he hoped the war could be resolved ‘without thinking about Tomahawks’, which the US ‘needs’.
During that meeting, Zelensky pressed for advanced missiles and additional air defence systems, describing the discussions as ‘productive’ but acknowledging that his request for Tomahawks was not approved.
In his lengthy post on Wednesday, Zelensky added: ‘Everyone who is now helping Ukraine with air defense systems and missiles for them is protecting lives. We are grateful for that.’
He also wrote that ‘everyone who helps Ukraine with long-range capabilities will bring the end of the war closer’.
Trump’s Tomahawk reversal comes as he attempts to position himself as a peacemaker, saying he wants to focus on diplomacy rather than escalation.
After the meeting, Trump said he had told both Putin and Zelensky that it was ‘time to stop the killing and make a deal’. He wrote on Truth Social: ‘They should stop where they are. Let both claim victory.’
He was expected to meet Putin in Hungary later this month, a move that raised eyebrows in Kyiv, where officials fear a settlement could be discussed without Ukraine’s input.
However, this week, the plans for the second peace summit between the two were put on hold. Trump later said that he did not want to have a ‘wasted meeting’. Key differences in the US and Russia’s proposals for a ceasefire are said to have led to the pause.
A senior European diplomat told Reuters: ‘I guess the Russians wanted too much and it became evident for the Americans that there will be no deal for Trump in Budapest.’
Meanwhile, on Monday, Moscow insisted that Russia’s territorial demands from Ukraine remain unchanged. It came after some reports indicated that Putin was reining in his demands for the possibility of a ceasefire.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said: ‘This topic was repeatedly raised in various forms during contacts between Russia and the US.
‘The Russian side answered every time, this answer is well known: the consistency of Russia’s position doesn’t change.’
The Kremlin has demanded full control over Crimea as well as areas it currently occupies, including Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson.
Zelensky, however, has vowed not to give up any Ukrainian territories.
