Ukraine Raises the Stakes: Kyiv Threatens Broader Attacks Inside Russia

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned on Monday that Kyiv intends to expand its drone and missile attacks to include additional Russian regions, stressing that long-range attack capabilities are a crucial element for ensuring peace.

Escalation and Geographical Expansion

• Essential Component of Peace: In his evening video message, Zelenskyy stated: "The capabilities to launch long-range attacks are a component of our independence and will be the most important component in ensuring peace."

• Military Plan: He added that military leaders discussed targets for attacks until the end of the year, including their "geographical expansion" into deeper Russian territory.

• Technical Glitch: This threat comes despite Zelenskyy's admission on Sunday of a "technical problem" in the production of Ukraine's long-planned cruise missiles, known as "Flamingo."

Zelenskyy’s Expectation of a 'Peace Plan'

Zelenskyy anticipates that Western allies, specifically the "Coalition of the Willing" (an informal alliance of about 35 countries led by the UK and France), will put forward a brief peace proposal within the "next week or ten days."

• Conditions for Negotiations: The Ukrainian President expressed skepticism that Russian President Vladimir Putin would be ready to agree to the deal. To compel Putin to the negotiating table, Zelenskyy deems the imposition of more sanctions on Russia and the provision of long-range weapons to Ukraine as necessary.

• Positions: This move follows US President Donald Trump's call for freezing the conflict along the current front line—a demand accepted by Ukraine and its European backers. However, Moscow insists on the complete withdrawal of Ukrainian forces from the illegally annexed eastern Donetsk region, while Kyiv maintains its insistence on not ceding any territory in any agreement to end the war.