KYIV, Dec 28 — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Russia’s latest large-scale assault on Kyiv showed President Vladimir Putin’s intent to continue the war, calling the Russian leader “a man of war” as Ukraine prepares to push a new peace proposal with the United States.
“We want peace,” Zelensky said Saturday. “And he’s a man of war.”
Russia launched a prolonged aerial attack on Ukraine’s capital and nearby regions overnight, killing at least two people and wounding four others, Ukrainian officials said. Zelensky said Moscow fired more than 500 drones and over 40 missiles, making it one of the heaviest attacks on Kyiv in recent months.
The assault lasted more than 10 hours, according to CNN, leaving parts of the city without electricity and disrupting daily life.
Zelensky made the remarks while in Halifax, Nova Scotia, where he met Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and held talks with NATO and European Union leaders. His visit came a day before a planned meeting with US President Donald Trump in Florida.
Zelensky is expected to present Trump with a 20-point plan aimed at ending the war, which is now approaching its fourth year. Trump has previously said any peace agreement would need his approval.
Following meetings in Canada, Zelensky warned that Russia was seeking to delay any meaningful resolution to the conflict.
“Strong positions are needed both at the front and in diplomacy to prevent Putin from manipulating and evading a real and just end to the war,” Zelensky said in a post on X.
Ukrainian officials say continued Western military and diplomatic support remains critical as Russia sustains pressure through large-scale drone and missile strikes.
