Volodymyr Zelensky has demanded "regime change" in Russia after Vladimir Putin unleashed another barrage of missiles and drones against Ukraine.
The Ukrainian President claimed that Putin could be "pushed" into stopping the war - but if not, he said his allies would step in.
"If the world doesn't aim to change the regime in Russia, that means even after the war ends, Moscow will still try to destabilise neighbouring countries," Zelensky said.
In the early hours of Thursday morning, Russian strikes on capital Kyiv killed 26 people - three of which were children.
The fresh wave of attacks came despite Donald Trump issuing Putin a 10-12-day deadline to reach a peace deal with Ukraine.
"Russia - I think it's disgusting what they're doing," the US President went on to say on Thursday.
REUTERS
|Volodymyr Zelensky has demanded 'regime change' in Russia
While Zelensky's appeal to his Western allies came just after he restored the independence of Ukraine's two main anti-corruption agencies in a major U-turn.
After tense talks with Sir Keir Starmer, who suggested "involving experts who could contribute to long-term co-operation on anti-corruption initiatives", Zelensky backed down on the so-called "power grab".
He signed a new Bill on Thursday shortly after Ukraine's Parliament approved it 331 to 0, saying the legislation "guarantees the absence of any kind of outside influence [or] interference".
"Ukraine is a democracy - there are definitely no doubts," Zelensky said.
PA
|Zelensky said he had U-turned after taking advice from Sir Keir Starmer
European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen described Thursday's law as "a welcome step" and urged Ukraine to continue on its course.
But later that day, Russia had injured over 150 Ukrainians, with Zelensky denouncing an "unimaginable scale of terror and brutality" from Putin's strikes.
Kyiv's Mayor, Vitali Klitschko, said Friday had been declared a day of mourning in the capital for the victims.
Russian forces said they hit a military airfield, an ammunition warehouse and drone factories with a series of overnight strikes.
REUTERS |
Donald Trump said on Friday: 'This is a war that should have never happened - this is Biden's war, not "TRUMP's"'
On Friday, before he announced a barnstorming move to place nuclear submarines on Putin's doorstep, Trump said: "I have just been informed that almost 20,000 Russian soldiers died this month in the ridiculous war with Ukraine.
"Russia has lost 112,500 soldiers since the beginning of the year. That is a lot of unnecessary DEATH! Ukraine, however, has also suffered greatly.
"They have lost approximately 8,000 soldiers since January 1, 2025, and that number does not include their missing.
"Ukraine has also lost civilians, but in smaller numbers, as Russian rockets crash into Kyiv, and other Ukrainian locales.
"This is a war that should have never happened - this is Biden's war, not 'TRUMP's'. I'm just here to see if I can stop it!"