Zelensky Seeks Enhanced Air Defense as Russia Exploits Shifting Global Attention on Ukraine War

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has appealed to his allies for additional air defense systems, cautioning that Russia is capitalizing on the diminished global focus on the Ukraine conflict to intensify its attacks on the country.

Zelensky recently sought Washington's support for long-range Tomahawk cruise missiles to bolster Ukraine's defense capabilities.

Diplomatic initiatives to resolve Russia's three-and-a-half-year invasion have reached an impasse in recent months, while Moscow has resumed its systematic air strikes against Ukraine's power infrastructure, leaving hundreds of thousands without electricity as winter approaches.

During separate conversations with US President Donald Trump and French President Emmanuel Macron on Sunday, Zelensky requested more missiles and assistance in enhancing Ukraine's "long-range capabilities."

"Russia is now taking advantage of the moment -- the fact that the Middle East and domestic issues in every country are getting maximum attention," Zelensky stated in a summary of his discussion with Macron.

Trump's August meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin failed to produce any peace agreement. In his Sunday call with Trump, their second in two days, Zelensky indicated that both nations would work toward strengthening Ukraine's defensive position.

"We agreed with President Trump that our teams, our military would handle everything we discussed," Zelensky remarked, without providing specific details. The White House did not immediately respond regarding the conversation.

Zelensky has recently urged Washington to provide Kyiv with long-range Tomahawk cruise missiles, a request under consideration by the White House. Russia has warned that supplying these missiles to Ukraine could severely damage US-Russia relations and trigger further escalation.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov reiterated this warning on Sunday, suggesting Moscow might treat any launches of such missiles as potentially nuclear-armed. "Just imagine, a long-range missile takes off and flies, and we know it could be nuclear-armed. What is the Russian Federation to think?" Peskov told a state television reporter.

Russia launched another wave of attacks on Ukraine early Sunday, resulting in one fatality and injuring more than a dozen people across at least four regions, according to regional officials. In his conversation with Macron, Zelensky described Moscow's strikes as "even more vile."

Russia began its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, characterizing it as a "special military operation" to demilitarize the country and prevent NATO expansion. Ukraine and its European allies describe the conflict as an illegal territorial seizure that has caused tens of thousands of civilian and military casualties and widespread destruction.

Since 2022, millions of Ukrainians have been forced to flee their homes, while Russia now occupies approximately one-fifth of Ukrainian territory, much of which has been devastated by the ongoing conflict.