President Volodymyr Zelensky said Ukraine can significantly expand long-range strikes inside Russia if partners provide more funding, arguing that bringing the war back to Russian territory is one way to increase pressure on Moscow and push President Vladimir Putin toward peace negotiations.
His comments came at a press conference following a meeting of the Coalition of the Willing in Kyiv on Monday, as Ukraine marked the 35th anniversary of the restoration of its independence.
Allied leaders used the gathering to reaffirm continued support for Kyiv despite Russian threats and escalating attacks, while discussing greater military assistance, increased pressure on Moscow, and long-term security guarantees.
British Prime Minister Andy Burnham, French President Emmanuel Macron, and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz chaired the meeting alongside Zelensky.
According to a joint statement issued after the talks, the coalition agreed to urgently strengthen Ukraine’s air defenses, increase military assistance, deepen cooperation with the Ukrainian defense industry, and tighten sanctions on Russia’s military-industrial complex.
Zelensky was asked whether Ukraine would continue long-range strikes inside Russia, including on oil refineries and logistics sites.
“We have enough capacities, of course, to increase the production,” Zelensky said. “We will be able to attack more.”
He said Ukraine already produces several types of long-range drones, missiles and missile-drones capable of striking targets at ranges from roughly 350 to 3,000 kilometers (217 to 1,864 miles).
The weapons, he said, had already demonstrated their effectiveness in Ukrainian operations. But financing remains the main obstacle.
According to Zelensky, Ukraine can currently produce roughly 200 to 300 long-range strike drones per day.
He contrasted that with Russia’s rapid expansion of its own long-range drone campaign.
Zelensky said Russia had gone from launching around 40 Iranian-designed Shahed drones a day two years ago to 100, then 300, and now around 500, with as many as 1,000 drones used during particularly large-scale attacks.
“If we want to bring back this war to Russia and make it painful for them, really, that their society will feel and will pressure Putin, I think this is one of the instruments how to push Putin to negotiations,” Zelensky said.
Zelensky said Kyiv needs to become competitive with Moscow in the number of deep strikes it is capable of launching.
He also pointed to the funding gap, saying Russia has far greater resources while Ukraine faces a roughly $27 billion defense shortfall.
“We have capacities,” he said. “We need more money, much more.”
Finnish President Alexander Stubb, speaking at the press conference, backed Ukraine’s long-range campaign and described deep strikes as a “sensible military strategy.”
Stubb argued that providing Ukraine with the financial and military resources needed for missile and drone strikes inside Russia increases the cost of continuing the war for Moscow and could help bring Russia to the negotiating table.
Air defense an urgent priority
The Coalition of the Willing identified strengthening Ukraine’s air defenses as an “urgent priority” amid intensified Russian missile and drone attacks on Ukrainian cities.
Leaders agreed to increase military support, strengthen air defense, expand cooperation with Ukraine’s defense industry, and share relevant military technology, including through the Anti-Ballistic Missile Coalition.
The gathering followed a series of large Russian attacks on Ukrainian cities and infrastructure, including strikes that caused some of the highest civilian casualty levels since the beginning of the full-scale invasion.
Coalition leaders specifically condemned attacks on civilians, critical infrastructure and Ukrainian cultural heritage, including the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra.
They reaffirmed Ukraine’s right to defend itself against Russia’s war of aggression under international law and Article 51 of the UN Charter, saying Russian threats would not deter continued support for Kyiv.
More pressure on Russia
The coalition also agreed to “ratchet up” sanctions on Russia’s military-industrial complex, curb sanctions evasion and target its Shadow Fleet.
The joint statement said measures imposed since February 2022 have deprived Russia’s war chest of at least $495 billion.
Leaders also welcomed efforts in the US Senate to increase economic pressure on Moscow and committed to working closely with Washington on coordinated measures aimed at reducing Russia’s ability to finance the war.
Ukraine’s allies also agreed that support for the country’s energy system must be delivered urgently ahead of winter.
The coalition pledged assistance through the Ukraine Energy Support Fund as well as specialist equipment to repair and strengthen energy infrastructure repeatedly targeted by Russia.
Multinational force after a ceasefire
Leaders also reaffirmed plans for a Multinational Force Ukraine that would be prepared to deploy after a “credible cessation of hostilities.”
The force would form part of a broader package of politically and legally binding security guarantees intended to protect Ukraine after a ceasefire and deter renewed Russian aggression.
Coalition leaders also reiterated their call for Russia to agree to a “full, immediate, and unconditional ceasefire starting from the line of contact.”