Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced they will continue long-range strikes throughout the autumn and tighten sanctions to force Russia into peace. Zelensky outlined this strategy in a speech at the 2026 Ukraine Ambassadors Conference held in Kyiv.
The Ukrainian leader accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of intending to prolong the war. "Putin is preparing for a new mobilization and new attacks. We see Russia's real intentions. We are working to unite our allies and pressure the aggressor," he said.
Russia launched a military attack on Ukraine on February 24, 2022. Moscow demands that Kyiv abandon its goal of joining Western military alliances for the war to end. Ukraine considers this demand interference in its internal affairs.