Zelensky pleads with West for 'strong response' as Russia steps up attacks

2025-03-30 12:19:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

Zelensky pleads with West for 'strong response' as Russia steps up

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky demanded a "strong response" from Western partners late Saturday after Russia stepped up deadly attacks, including airstrikes on a military hospital in Kharkiv and the cities of Dnipro and Kryvyi Rih.

"Our partners must clearly understand: These attacks are not only attacks on Ukrainian civilians, but also on all international efforts - on the very diplomacy that we are trying to use to end this war," Zelensky said in his evening video address.

"Russia is hitting the positions of all those who want to end this war. It is impossible to ignore hundreds of Shahed drones every night," he added, referring to Iranian-made drones.

"We are waiting for an answer – a serious answer. We are working on an answer. A strong answer is urgently needed – above all from the US, from Europe, from everyone in the world who has bet on diplomacy. Russia must be forced to accept peace – only pressure will do the job," he added.

Zelensky underlined that the US proposal for an unconditional ceasefire has been on the table for a long time "without a proper response from Russia."

"This shows a lot," he said.

Russia has carried out major deadly attacks in the last 24 hours.

Last night, the Ukrainian General Staff said that "Russian terrorists struck a military hospital in the city of Kharkiv" with unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).

"As a result of the strike by Shahed-type UAVs, the hospital building and nearby residential buildings were damaged. According to preliminary data, there are casualties among the soldiers who were being treated at the medical center," the statement said.

Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov said at least two people were killed, but it was not clear in which part of the city they were killed.

Earlier, a regional governor said a Russian drone strike on the southeastern Ukrainian city of Dnipro on the night of March 28 killed four people and caused a large fire in a hotel and restaurant complex, as well as several residential buildings.

Russian forces used more than 20 drones in the attack on Dnipro, where 25 people were also injured.

Zelensky said that a pregnant woman was among the injured.

Meanwhile, at least seven people were injured in a rocket attack in Kryvyi Rih, according to Ukraine's state emergency service.

On the other hand, Russia claimed to have occupied two other villages in eastern and southern Ukraine.

Russia's Defense Ministry said its forces had taken control of villages in the southern Zaporizhia region and the eastern Donetsk region. Russia's claims could not be immediately verified./ REL