1,000 Days of War: Zelensky Urges Europe to ‘Push Russia Harder’ as Ukraine Seeks Decisive Strikes.
In a moving speech marking the 1,000-day milestone since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, President Volodymyr Zelensky has called on Europe to intensify its pressure on Moscow, warning that “the more time he [Putin] has, the worse the conditions become.”
Addressing a special session of the European Parliament on Tuesday, Zelensky underscored the urgency of the situation, stating that Ukraine’s very existence is at stake in this “extremely complex, fierce battle.”
Zelensky’s address came amidst speculation that Ukraine may have used the long-range Atacams missile system, provided by the United States, to strike a target deep inside Russian territory.
However, Kyiv has often employed domestic drones to attack sites within Russia, and there has been no immediate evidence confirming the use of the US-supplied Atacams system.
Nevertheless, the possibility of Ukraine leveraging this advanced weaponry has raised concerns and questions about the escalation of the conflict.
Zelensky warned that the deployment of North Korean troops is a clear sign that Moscow is determined to escalate the war, and he emphasized that Putin “will not stop on his own.” The Ukrainian leader urged Europe to “push Russia harder” towards a “just peace,” underscoring the need for decisive action.
The comments came after a series of deadly drone attacks on Ukraine, including one that killed eight people, including a child, in the northeastern Sumy region overnight.
Additionally, the Kremlin has approved an updated nuclear doctrine, which suggests that any aggression from a non-nuclear state, if backed by a nuclear power, will be regarded as a joint attack on Russia.
The European Union’s foreign affairs chief, Josep Borrell Fontelles, reiterated the bloc’s unwavering support for Ukraine, stating that the “European Union will continue to advance support to help achieve victory for Ukraine and to bring peace to our continent.” However, he acknowledged the need to “do more and quicker” in supporting Ukraine.
Similarly, UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has reaffirmed Britain’s “ironclad” support for Ukraine, with speculation that he may permit Kyiv to use British-supplied Storm Shadow missiles to target Russian territory more deeply.
