Zelensky urges US to sanction Russia 'now' over deadly strikes

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has urged the United States to impose new sanctions on Russia immediately following recent deadly strikes on Ukraine, according to his Friday comments. The remarks came as Zelensky announced plans to meet with US President Donald Trump in late September, amidst ongoing US-led efforts to negotiate an end to the four-and-a-half year conflict in Ukraine.

Zelensky told the Yalta European Strategy forum, "Sanctions need to be imposed now. Honestly, I sometimes do not understand why decisions cannot be made quickly." He separately called for a truce with Russia that would cover strikes on energy targets, stating Ukraine was prepared to retaliate if Moscow attacked the country's energy grid during the winter.

"Russia knows that if they strike... they will receive the same in return," Zelensky added. The escalation of long-range strikes from both Russia and Ukraine continued in recent months, as US-led negotiations to end Europe's deadliest conflict since World War II remain stalled. An early morning Russian drone strike on a petrol station in Kyiv killed two people and hospitalized four, according to the city's mayor.