Vladimir Putin Hints at Strikes on West as Ukraine Pleades for Military Aid

Kiev, Ukraine - In a stark warning, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has hinted that Russian President Vladimir Putin may resort to strikes against Western countries if they fail to provide Ukraine with the necessary military aid.

Zelensky, speaking in a recent address, stated that Ukraine would be able to completely defend its skies if it received around a dozen more Patriot air defence systems from Western allies. He emphasized the urgent need for these systems, warning that they should not "gather dust at storage bases".

The Ukrainian president's pleas come after a series of attacks by Russian forces in recent days. A Russian missile killed at least four people and injured 20 more in the southeastern city of Zaporizhzhia, while a drone hit and damaged an official vehicle from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on the road to the Russian-held nuclear power plant.

The UN team involved is safe, but IAEA's chief Rafael Grossi has repeated his calls for "utmost restraint" from both sides. The situation remains tense in Ukraine as well as other parts of Russia, where an overnight missile attack damaged an industrial facility and set fire to at least 14 cars in Taganrog.

The escalating tensions have heightened the concerns about potential new conflicts between Russia and Western countries. With diplomatic efforts struggling to find a breakthrough, the international community is closely watching developments from Kiev to Moscow.