‘We must stop Putin’: Zelensky says Russians launched 1,020 attack drones, 1,360 guided aerial bombs this week

A day after expressing strong support for a 30-day unconditional ceasefire proposed by the United States, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Sunday said that Russia continues to attack various cities and they must stop President Vladamir Putin.

“We need a just and lasting peace. Peace with real security guarantee,” said Zelensky sharing the images of damages and destruction in various parts of the country.

“Hundreds of attacks on our cities and communities this week: Chernihiv, Kherson, Donetsk, Kharkiv, Dnipro, Odesa, Poltava, Kyiv, Mykolaiv, Zaporizhzhia, and Sumy regions. The Russians launched over 1,020 attack drones, nearly 1,360 guided aerial bombs, and more than 10 missiles of various types,” said Zelensky in a post on X.

Stating that those who want the war to end as soon as possible do not act this way, the Ukranian President said, “That is why we must jointly continue to put pressure on Russia to force an end to its aggression.”

Zelensky stated that decisive measures are needed, including sanctions that must be not only maintained but also continuously strengthened.

“Ukraine, Europe, America, and everyone in the world who wants peace – together, we can ensure a just and lasting peace.”

The remark comes as top US and Russian diplomats discussed on Saturday the “next steps” to end the war in Ukraine, hours after Kyiv’s allies agreed to exert pressure on Moscow.

On Friday, Putin called on beleaguered Ukrainian troops in the Russian region of Kursk to “surrender”.

“We are sympathetic to President Trump’s call,” Putin said in remarks broadcast on Russian television.

“If they lay down their arms and surrender, they will be guaranteed life and dignified treatment,” Putin said.

US President Donald Trump has urged Putin to spare the lives of the Ukrainian troops as he said his envoy had held “productive” talks with Russia’s leader on a proposed 30-day ceasefire.

Trump said “thousands” of Ukrainian troops were “completely surrounded by the Russian military, and in a very bad and vulnerable position”.

“I have strongly requested to President Putin that their lives be spared. This would be a horrible massacre, one not seen since World War II,” Trump said.