Zelensky urges Trump and major powers to increase pressure on Russia

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has urged U.S. President Donald Trump to press Chinese President Xi Jinping to use Beijing’s influence over Russian President Vladimir Putin, as Ukraine seeks stronger international action against Moscow.

Ahead of Trump’s planned meeting with Xi, Zelensky said China’s leader could influence Putin more than “many others” and that he was awaiting feedback after raising the issue with Trump. Zelensky also called on China, India, Brazil, South Africa and other members of the G20 and Global South to adopt a consistently stronger position toward Russia.

The appeals followed another series of Russian attacks. Zelensky said Russia had launched more than 2,200 attack drones, about 1,650 guided aerial bombs and 38 missiles at Ukraine during the week. He reported deaths in the Zaporizhzhia region and Kyiv, injuries from strikes on a Kyiv data center, and damage to homes, energy sites and other civilian infrastructure across several regions.

Zelensky separately asked Trump to implement sanctions legislation associated with U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham, targeting Russian banks, energy revenue, oligarchs, sanctions-evasion networks and foreign entities supporting Moscow’s war. He also urged European leaders to impose additional sanctions and retain existing restrictions on Russian oligarchs.

The Jerusalem Post reported that Zelensky said Trump had also made a final decision to license Ukraine to manufacture Patriot missile interceptors, following talks between the two leaders during the United Nations General Assembly.