Zelensky Raises Alarm Over New Russian Offensive: 'Ample Evidence'

 

Zelensky Warns of Imminent Russian Offensive as Peace Talks Stall

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has warned that there is “ample evidence” Russia is preparing a new offensive in Ukraine, even as U.S.-brokered peace negotiations continue to yield little progress. His warning comes after a deadly wave of Russian aerial attacks over the weekend, which drew sharp criticism from U.S. President Donald Trump.

Kyiv has repeatedly cautioned that Russia may be preparing renewed assaults in order to gain leverage in ongoing peace discussions. Ukrainian officials have recently reported increased Russian military activity in the northeastern Kharkiv and Sumy regions.

While analysts believe Russia may not possess the resources for a broad, multi-front offensive this summer, they note that Moscow could still concentrate forces in key areas to exert pressure on Ukrainian defenses.

“There is ample evidence Moscow is preparing new offensive operations,” Zelensky said during his Monday evening address. “Russia is counting on a prolonged war. This shows a clear disregard for global calls for peace and ongoing diplomatic efforts.”

Ukraine has accused Moscow of intentionally stalling on a ceasefire agreement aimed at ending Europe’s largest land conflict since World War II. While Kyiv agreed to a comprehensive 30-day ceasefire proposal from the U.S. in March, Russia has yet to sign on.

Peace talks, led by Washington, have made little headway. Trump has voiced growing frustration with Russian negotiators, accusing them of stalling, and has frequently adopted a critical tone toward President Zelensky.

A U.S. State Department official reaffirmed Washington’s condemnation of Russia’s attacks, especially those causing civilian casualties. The official noted that the U.S. is closely monitoring the recent intensification of drone and missile strikes and remains committed to facilitating direct talks between the two sides. “Our thoughts are with the victims and their families,” the official added, emphasizing that the U.S. supports “any mechanism that leads to a just, durable, and lasting peace,” but reiterating that “there is no military solution” to the war.

The first round of direct peace negotiations, held in Istanbul in mid-May, failed to deliver meaningful progress.

Jack Watling, a senior research fellow at the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI), stated earlier this month that Russia is likely trying to escalate offensives to gain an advantage in negotiations. However, he noted that “this pressure cannot be sustained indefinitely.”

Recent signs indicate Russia may have already begun its summer campaign, with a noticeable increase in attacks across eastern Ukraine, particularly in the embattled Donetsk region and around the strategic city of Pokrovsk.

On Sunday, a Ukrainian military spokesperson confirmed that Russian forces had launched small-scale attacks along the Kharkiv border, though no large-scale assault had occurred.

Sky News reported that as many as 50,000 Russian troops were gathering near the Kharkiv border following Moscow’s success in pushing Ukrainian forces out of parts of Russia’s Kursk region. Ukraine had made territorial gains there in the summer of 2024 before withdrawing in March. Kursk borders Ukraine’s Sumy region, which itself lies adjacent to Kharkiv.

Oleh Hryhorov, head of the Sumy regional administration, confirmed Tuesday that Russian forces had seized four settlements in the area. The Russian military also reported strikes on several Ukrainian positions in Sumy over the previous day.

Ivan Stupak, a former officer with Ukraine’s SBU security service, described Russia’s operations in Sumy as “the dark side” of Ukraine’s earlier incursions into Kursk.

Over the weekend, Russia dramatically escalated its aerial bombardment, launching nearly 300 drones and 69 missiles—including advanced ballistic systems—in overnight strikes into Sunday morning. Ukrainian officials reported at least 12 fatalities, marking the largest aerial attack since the start of the war.

The following night, Ukraine's military said Russia had launched an additional 355 drones and nine cruise missiles.

The attacks prompted an unusually harsh response from Trump, who referred to Russian President Vladimir Putin as “absolutely CRAZY” in a Truth Social post. “I’ve always had a very good relationship with Vladimir Putin, but something has happened to him,” Trump wrote.

“Missiles and drones are being fired into Ukrainian cities for no reason whatsoever,” Trump added.

In response, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov dismissed Trump’s remarks as “emotional overstrain,” while simultaneously praising the former president’s efforts to mediate peace.

It remains uncertain whether Trump’s senior advisors will be able to make meaningful progress in the ongoing ceasefire negotiations with Moscow.