Ukrainian President Warns Moscow

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy issued a stark warning to Kremlin officials on Thursday, suggesting they may want to familiarize themselves with the nearest bomb shelters.

His remarks came in an interview with Axios following his address to the UN General Assembly. In the conversation, Zelenskyy stated that he has received explicit authorization from President Donald Trump to target energy and infrastructure sites within Russia.

He also mentioned a request from the U.S. for a weapons system that could potentially compel Russian President Vladimir Putin to come to the negotiating table, though he did not disclose the specific weapon.

“They need to know where the bomb shelters are,” Zelenskyy said regarding the Kremlin. “That’s a necessity. If they don’t cease hostilities, they’re going to need them anyway.”

He continued, “Whatever attacks they launch, we respond. If they strike us, we strike back.”

Zelenskyy was somewhat ambiguous about the requested weapon system, emphasizing its potential for pressure rather than immediate use. “President Trump knows, I told him what we needed yesterday—just one thing,” he mentioned. “We need it, but that doesn’t automatically mean we will use it. I think it serves as additional leverage for Putin to come and talk.”

The White House did not quickly respond to inquiries from news outlets.

Moreover, Trump made headlines recently by expressing a revised stance on Ukraine, suggesting that the country has the ability to reclaim all its territory seized by Russia, with support from the European Union. “I believe Ukraine is capable of winning everything, and with NATO’s support, returning to its original borders is a realistic option,” he stated.

This declaration marked a significant shift from his earlier position, where he had urged Zelenskyy to make major concessions to conclude the conflict.