Published on 5/30/2026
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Friday that intelligence reports indicate that Russia is preparing to launch a new large-scale attack on Ukraine.
In his video evening speech, Zelensky stressed the readiness of the Ukrainian agencies, air forces, and air defense forces to work around the clock to confront this threat, reiterating his call to impose more sanctions on Russia and to accelerate the implementation of agreements with partners regarding air defense.
Zelensky’s warnings come after Russia announced last Monday its intention to launch a “series of organized strikes” on targets in Kiev, and its demand for foreigners and diplomats to leave the country.
Moscow justified its decision to respond to a drone attack that targeted a student residence last week in the Russian-controlled Lugansk region, killing 21 people, an attack that Ukraine disavowed.
The Russian bombing of Kiev and other areas last Sunday led to the death of two people and the injury of dozens.
End of war
On the other hand, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Friday that his previous talk on May 9 about the war approaching its end was based on an analysis of the field progress made by Russian forces, while at the same time refusing to specify any timetable for the end of the conflict.
Putin described Western allegations about Russia’s readiness to wage war on Europe as “pure lies,” criticizing Western media for covering the student housing incident in Luhansk.
In a related context, Putin stressed that Russia has all the means to destroy any party that attempts to attack the Russian region of Kaliningrad, in response to statements by Kestutis Podres, Lithuanian Foreign Minister, this month regarding NATO’s ability to penetrate the region.
However, the Russian President stressed that Moscow is still ready to continue talks to reach a peaceful solution to the conflict in Ukraine.
Since February 24, 2022, Russia has continued its military operation in Ukraine, while conditioning its end on Kiev’s abandonment of joining Western military entities, which Kiev considers interference in its affairs.
