Zelensky says Kremlin planning new mass attack on Ukraine

Zelensky said Ukraine was in constant contact with its allies to secure new anti-aircraft defenses in anticipation of a new major attack from Russia.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Russia was planning a new major attack on his country, in comments published on Tuesday.

Zelensky, posting on Telegram about his meeting with British Prime Minister Andy Burnham on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, said Ukraine was in constant contact with its allies to secure new anti-aircraft defenses.

"There's intelligence right now that Russia is preparing a new massive attack against Ukraine," Zelensky wrote.

He said that there could not possibly be any discussion of easing sanctions against Russia "when Ukrainians live every day under the threat of missile and drone attacks."

Russian forces have long unleashed large-scale overnight attacks by drones and missiles but have altered tactics in recent weeks, launching constant barrages throughout the day.

Russia is deploying new drones capable of evading air defenses

Moscow has also, in recent months, deployed jet-powered drones, which fly at higher altitudes and evade air defenses, disrupting businesses, government and ordinary life on a much bigger scale than previously in the 4-1/2-year-old war.

While in New York, Zelensky discussed efforts to end the war with US President Donald Trump, including a potential bilateral ceasefire on energy-related targets.

Russian troops are advancing slowly through eastern Ukraine's Donetsk region, but the front line has undergone little change in many months. Ukrainian forces now launch air strikes on Russian targets, many in the oil industry, at sites up to 3,000 km (1,800 miles) from the Ukrainian border.

Interviewed in New York by the Wall Street Journal, Zelensky said Russian President Vladimir Putin was neither winning nor losing the war, but did not feel compelled to hold direct negotiations on ending the conflict.

"The situation on the battlefield is not successful for Putin. He is not winning, it is true. And he is not losing, it is also true, because for him human losses are not to lose ... but his society is losing people," Zelensky said.