Zelenskyy condemns Russian missile strike as severe escalation in Ukraine conflict
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned Russia's recent use of an experimental ballistic missile on Ukraine, calling it a severe escalation. He stated that this action shows Russia's lack of interest in peace and urged a strong international response. Zelenskyy emphasized Ukraine's right to defend itself with long-range weapons, asserting that the world must react to Russia's aggression. He criticized Vladimir Putin for ignoring global calls for peace and for prolonging the conflict. The U.S. accused Russia of escalating the war, noting that the missile strike on Dnipro was a response to Ukrainian attacks. Russia claimed the strike was justified due to NATO's actions, while U.S. officials reported that the missile was an intermediate-range ballistic missile, not an intercontinental one.