Kyiv: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has called for increased Western pressure on Russia following a major missile attack on Kyiv that left one person dead and three others injured. The early morning strike on Monday also targeted multiple regions across Ukraine, including Mykolaiv, Sumy, Kharkiv, Khmelnytskyi and Cherkasy.

Zelenskyy stated that the repeated missile attacks demonstrate that "pressure on Russia is still insufficient" and accused Moscow of escalating its offensive with the clear intention of prolonging the war. “This is how Russia reveals its true intentions—to continue the terror for as long as the world allows it,” he said.

He emphasised that the strikes are deliberately aimed at civilians, including children, and accused Russia of waging a war on innocent lives. “Every strike targets our people, our children. They are waging war against children playing on playgrounds,” he added.

The Ukrainian president said that the global community must not ease its pressure on Russia in pursuit of diplomacy, as Moscow has shown no genuine intent to end hostilities. “There could be no easing of pressure,” he declared, adding that diplomacy has been undermined by Russia’s continued aggression.

In a related development, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio remarked that the world would learn “in a matter of weeks” whether Russia is truly interested in peace. Meanwhile, Zelenskyy said that Ukraine has agreed to a full, unconditional ceasefire proposed by the US, but has yet to receive a formal response. He accused Russia of refusing the ceasefire to maintain its ability to attack from the sea, especially through the Black Sea, from which the latest missile launches were reportedly carried out.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy reiterated that a genuine ceasefire must be unconditional and ensure the cessation of all hostilities, particularly those threatening civilian life and port security.

At the same time, the Russian Defence Ministry accused Ukraine of violating a US-brokered moratorium on targeting energy infrastructure, claiming seven attacks on facilities in Crimea and several Russian regions, including Bryansk, Rostov, and Voronezh. One attack reportedly damaged a gas pipeline in Voronezh. These claims remain unverified by independent sources.

Amid this escalation, thousands of Ukrainian civilians remain detained by Russian forces, with uncertain prospects for release, highlighting ongoing human rights concerns in occupied territories. As both sides exchange blame and continue military operations, Zelenskyy’s message remains clear: only sustained and coordinated international pressure can deter further aggression and bring peace closer.