Kyiv: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Saturday delivered sharp criticism of Russian President Vladimir Putin following a large-scale Russian strike on Kyiv and nearby areas, describing him as a leader driven by conflict rather than peace.
Speaking during a brief visit to Halifax, Canada, where he met Prime Minister Mark Carney, Zelensky said the latest attacks reflected Moscow’s true intentions. His remarks came just ahead of a planned meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump in Florida, where diplomatic efforts to end the prolonged war are expected to take centre stage.
“Ukraine seeks peace,” Zelensky said, adding that Russia’s leadership continues to act with a wartime mindset.
Zelensky’s stop in Canada included discussions with Canadian officials as well as representatives from NATO and the European Union. He urged allied nations to maintain firm military and diplomatic pressure, warning that Russia could otherwise delay or undermine any meaningful resolution to the conflict.
In a message shared on social media platform X after the meetings, Zelensky stressed the need for unity and resolve. “Strong positions are needed both on the battlefield and in diplomacy to prevent manipulation and to secure a fair and lasting peace,” he wrote.
The comments followed a prolonged overnight assault on Ukraine’s capital, which authorities described as one of the most intense aerial attacks in recent months. Ukrainian officials said the barrage involved hundreds of drones and dozens of missiles, causing casualties, damaging infrastructure and triggering power outages across parts of Kyiv. Daily life in the city was disrupted for hours as air defences remained active through the night.
Zelensky is expected to present a detailed peace proposal during his upcoming talks in the United States. President Trump has previously indicated that any settlement between Kyiv and Moscow would require his endorsement, underscoring the high stakes of the discussions.
As fighting continues on the ground, Zelensky reiterated that international support remains critical to countering Russia’s military pressure and moving closer to an end to the nearly four-year-long war.
