President Volodymyr Zelensky said that Russian leader Vladimir Putin hopes to use terror to break Ukraine’s resistance, but he believes Putin can be forced to make peace.
Speaking at the 71st annual session of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, Zelensky noted that the war in the Middle East is finally ending, showing that after immense suffering, peace is possible.
He added, however, that Russia’s war in Europe remains the biggest source of global instability.
“Putin can be forced to make peace – like any other terrorist. Even Hamas is now preparing to release hostages. If this is possible, then Putin can also be forced to restore peace,” Zelensky said.
He urged NATO members to act quickly, emphasizing the need to strengthen Ukraine’s air defenses and long-range missile capabilities before winter.
“Before winter, Putin hopes to use this terror to break our resistance regime. We cannot allow this,” Zelensky said.
“Therefore, I urge you to speak out in your parliaments and governments for strengthening air defense and missiles, which we need. And decisions on systems and missiles must be made in the coming weeks.”
Zelensky also highlighted his recent talks with US President Donald Trump, discussing Patriot systems, Tomahawk missiles, energy infrastructure support, and curbing Russian oil purchases.
“Even if the Hungarians claim that this helps their chances in the elections, in the long run it undermines the security of their country and Europe. For Putin, every billion matters. You cannot be part of the free world and at the same time support those who want to destroy it.”
On Sunday, the Ukrainian president urged his Western allies to boost air defense support, warning that Russia was “taking advantage” of the world’s shifting attention to step up its attacks on Ukraine.
In separate calls with Trump and French President Emmanuel Macron, Zelensky appealed for additional missiles and assistance in strengthening Ukraine’s “long-range capabilities.”
“Russia is now taking advantage of the moment - the fact that the Middle East and domestic issues in every country are getting maximum attention,” Zelensky said in a readout of his conversation with Macron.
Trump, who met with Putin in August but failed to reach any peace agreement, spoke with Zelensky for the second time in two days on Sunday.
“President Trump andvI agreed that our teams, our military would handle everything we discussed,” Zelensky said, without providing further details.
Zelensky has recently intensified his calls for Washington to supply Ukraine with long-range Tomahawk cruise missiles - a request the White House has said it is still reviewing.
Moscow has warned that such deliveries would trigger a major escalation. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov reiterated that threat on Sunday, saying Russia could interpret any Tomahawk launches as potentially nuclear, essentially repeating the Kremlin mantra every time a new weapon system or permission is made available to Kyiv.
“Just imagine, a long-range missile takes off and flies, and we know it could be nuclear-armed. What is the Russian Federation to think?” Peskov told state television.
In his call with Macron, Zelensky described Moscow’s recent missile and drone attacks as “even more vile.”