Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has warned that the Kremlin itself could become a target if Russia refuses to halt its invasion, telling Russian officials they should know the location of their bomb shelters, Axios reported Thursday.
Russia currently occupies about 20 percent of Ukraine’s territory and has pounded both civilian and military sites with missiles and bombs since its full-scale invasion in 2022. Earlier this month, Moscow’s forces struck Kyiv’s government complex for the first time.
Speaking to Axios, Zelensky said Ukraine’s military strategy would now expand to include previously off-limits targets.
“They have to know where their bomb shelters are,” he said. “If they will not stop the war, they will need it in any case.”
The Ukrainian leader insisted that civilians in Russia would not be targeted, emphasizing: “We are not terrorists.” But he hinted at Ukraine’s push to obtain a new, long-range U.S. weapon system—unnamed in the interview—that could allow Kyiv to strike deeper inside Russian territory.
According to Axios, Zelensky told U.S. President Donald Trump during a meeting in New York this week exactly “what we need — one thing.” He added, “If we will have such long-distance weapons from the United States, we will use it.”
Trump’s Shift on Ukraine
The warning comes amid a sharp turn in Trump’s position on the war. Once skeptical of Ukraine’s chances, the U.S. president now says Kyiv can reclaim all its territory.
He has also called on NATO allies to shoot down Russian fighter jets if they violate their airspace, following recent close encounters that rattled Eastern Europe.
This marks a striking reversal from Trump’s earlier stance, when in February he told Zelensky in the Oval Office that Ukraine “didn’t have the cards” to defeat Russia.
According to officials, the shift reflects Trump’s growing frustration with Vladimir Putin, particularly after an August 15 summit in Alaska ended without progress and was followed by intensified Russian strikes.
U.S. Vice President JD Vance reinforced the message on Wednesday, warning that Trump is “growing incredibly impatient” with Moscow. “If the Russians refuse to negotiate in good faith, I think it’s going to be very, very bad for their country,” Vance said.
For his part, Zelensky also pushed back against criticism over Ukraine’s suspension of elections during wartime, saying he would not remain in power once peace is restored. “My goal is to finish the war,” he stressed.
Be the first to comment