Zelensky sharply criticized the silence of the USA and the international community following the record-breaking attack by Russians: calling for tough sanctions and decisive action
After another large-scale and devastating attack by Russian drones and missiles, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed outrage over the insufficient response of global diplomacy, particularly the USA, which, according to him, by remaining silent, is encouraging Putin to engage in new aggressive actions. In his recent Telegram address, the head of state urged the international community to ramp up sanctions and take more decisive measures against Russia, as every new shelling of Kyiv and Ukrainian regions is a testimony to unprecedented cruelty and the international community’s neglect, prolonging the war. According to Ukrainian intelligence and military sources, on May 24-25, Russian troops launched a massive attack on Ukrainian territory involving nearly 370 drones and missiles of various types. Over 310 of these were destroyed by Ukrainian air defense systems or lost locally, demonstrating both the effectiveness of Ukraine’s air defense and the scale of destruction the country has suffered. That night, Ukrainian cities and regions again came under fierce fire — targets were once again aimed at civilian infrastructure, residential neighborhoods, and strategic facilities in Kyiv, Zhytomyr, Khmelnytskyi, Ternopil, Chernihiv, Sumy, Odesa, Poltava, Dnipropetrovsk, Mykolaiv, Kharkiv, and Cherkasy regions. In his speech marking this new wave of aggression, Zelensky emphasized: “Each such terrorist strike is a significant reason to introduce new sanctions against Russia. They prolong the war, and their daily brutality is a challenge to the international community. The world may go on weekends, may not react loudly, but the war continues and must not go unanswered. The silence of the West and other countries only encourages Putin, giving him a sense of impunity. Without genuine and strong pressure on the Russian leadership, it is impossible to halt this unprecedented humanitarian and security aggression. Sanctions are precisely the tool that can make the Kremlin reconsider and return to diplomatic dialogue. The international community must demonstrate its resolve and unite around the idea of ending the war through real actions. It is well known that the weakness of the Russian economy has long been evident, and it cannot withstand such pressures for long. Therefore, let us stop this war—only by applying the appropriate level of force and pressure on the Kremlin. Putin must understand: missile attacks and war are not a game, and it’s time to end this brutal struggle.” As a reminder, on the eve and during Saturday’s mass attack, Ukrainian aviation and air defenses effectively shot down over 310 out of 367 Russian drones and missiles, purposefully eliminating the enemy and its dangerous stockpile. This once again confirms the ability of Ukraine’s defense forces to counter large-scale aggression and protect civilians. Overall, the situation remains tense. All parties show different attitudes regarding the situation—Ukrainian authorities are calling on the world to show greater solidarity and respond swiftly to the challenges facing the country. However, according to Zelensky, Western leaders, including the USA, are still “silent,” which only encourages the Russian president and his circle to pursue further destructive actions with increased scope of terror. The international community must realize that without patient but firm pressure on Moscow and the Kremlin, Ukraine will not be able to stop this aggression and restore peace. Ukrainian politicians and military experts are fully convinced: only joint and consistent actions by international partners are the best chance to prevent even greater casualties and destruction. Therefore, in the context of this crisis, it is crucial not just to condemn but also to act—imposing new sanctions, uniting diplomatic efforts, and emphasizing the need for a swift and complete end to the war. In summary, the Ukrainian leader’s message is clear: Putin, this war can and must be stopped—but whether the world can overcome indifference and do so in truth remains to be seen.