Zelenskyy to lobby for Ukraine Support at UN General Assembly Amid Escalating Attacks
NEW YORK (AP) – Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is set to embark on a diplomatic push at the United Nations General Assembly this week, seeking to galvanize international support as Russia‘s invasion intensifies and Ukraine campaigns for stricter sanctions against Moscow. Zelenskyy announced Sunday he has scheduled nearly two dozen meetings with world leaders.
Zelenskyy plans to meet with U.S. President Donald Trump,hoping for progress toward a peace deal. “It is indeed vital that this week strengthen the world’s resolve for robust action – for without strength, peace will not prevail,” Zelenskyy said on Telegram.
The anticipated diplomacy comes as Ukraine reports a surge in Russian attacks. Over the past week, Russia has launched over 1,500 strike drones, 1,280 glide bombs, and 50 missiles at Ukraine, according to Zelenskyy, who added that more than 132,000 foreign components were found in the weaponry, originating from dozens of countries.
Meanwhile, a Russian overnight bombardment of Zaporizhzhia in southern ukraine killed three people and wounded two others, regional administration head Ivan Fedorov reported. The attack, lasting approximately 40 minutes starting around 4:20 a.m., targeted residential buildings, shopping malls, a parking lot, and “critical infrastructure,” with no apparent military targets, Fedorov said.Ukraine’s air force claimed to have intercepted 132 of 141 drones launched by Russia.
Russia also reported attacks.in Crimea, three people were killed and 16 wounded by Ukrainian drones striking Foros, a vacation resort, according to Sergei Aksyonov, the moscow-appointed head of the peninsula. Russia’s Defense Ministry stated there were no military facilities in the area. Additionally, three people were killed and 10 wounded in Ukraine’s drone attacks on Russia’s Belgorod border region, according to regional governor Vyacheslav Gladkov. The Russian Defense Ministry said it downed 114 Ukrainian drones over several regions early Monday.