Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky warned Thursday that Russia will continue to threaten its neighbors even after the war in Ukraine ends—unless the international community works to “change the regime” in Moscow.
Speaking via a glitch-ridden video link to an Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) conference, Zelensky condemned fresh Russian airstrikes overnight that killed eight civilians, including a six-year-old boy, and wounded multiple children.
“Russia keeps launching such attacks, even when the whole world is calling on it to stop the war,” Zelensky said.
He accused the Kremlin of being mentally “stuck in another era,” saying the leadership refuses to recognize the post-World War II global order and believes Russia’s borders are wherever it claims them to be.
“They are mentally stuck in another century — a time of brutal violence, depredations, and a total disregard for human rights and equality,” Zelensky said. “We all know those ideas must never return to Europe, and we all know how to protect ourselves from what Russia is bringing.”
Zelensky argued that only by changing the regime in Russia can Europe achieve lasting peace.
“If the world doesn’t aim to change the regime in Russia, then even after the war ends, Moscow will continue to destabilize its neighbors. It will keep spending huge amounts of money, resources — maybe even lives — to do so.”
To counter that, Zelensky urged stronger and more permanent sanctions, including the confiscation—not just freezing—of Russian assets. He called for a total blockade of Russia’s defense industry and limits on its ability to profit from energy exports.
According to Ukrainian officials, Russia launched 317 drones and 8 cruise missiles overnight. The Ukrainian Air Force claimed to have intercepted 288 drones and 3 missiles, but five cruise missiles struck their targets, causing casualties and damage.
Meanwhile, Ukraine launched airstrikes of its own, with Russian state media reporting the destruction of 32 Ukrainian drones, leading to a fire at a factory, gas pipeline damage in Volgograd, and train service delays. Russia reported no casualties.
Ukrainian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha urged President Donald Trump to abandon his plan to give Russian President Vladimir Putin a 50-day window to negotiate an end to the war.
“It is probably time to reduce to zero all of the timeframes that had been given to Putin to demonstrate a constructive approach,” Sybiha said. “President Trump has been very generous and very patient with Putin, trying to find a solution.”
Zelensky’s remarks come as Ukraine braces for continued assaults from Russia and presses the West to act more decisively to prevent future aggression.
