In a stern warning to international airlines, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky declared that Russian airspace has become 'completely unsafe' due to the escalating drone strikes from Ukraine. Zelensky emphasized that these drones pose a significant risk to civilian aviation, urging airlines, insurers, and users of Russia's key airports to take heed. 'Today, we want to warn every airline that uses Russian airspace, every insurer and everyone who still uses Russia's key airports: Russian airspace is becoming completely unsafe,' Zelensky stated in his nightly address.
Zelensky clarified that Ukraine does not intend to target civilian aircraft directly. Instead, the increased presence of drones in Russian skies necessitates caution. 'Ukraine does not threaten civilian aviation as such -- not a single civilian aircraft. There will simply be drones in Russia's skies on a scale that has to be taken into account,' he explained. This warning comes as air traffic at Russian airports has been repeatedly disrupted by the approach of Ukrainian drones, a trend that has intensified in recent months.
Russian leader Vladimir Putin responded to Zelensky's comments by accusing Ukraine of 'state terrorism.' During a televised news conference, Putin said, 'They are asking us to resume negotiations... but you don't negotiate with terrorists.' This hardening of stances follows fresh Russian missile and drone strikes that killed at least 12 people in Kyiv and the surrounding region. Zelensky reiterated Ukraine's commitment to avoiding civilian casualties, stating, 'We in Ukraine do not want innocent lives to be lost. That is why we are warning our partners: the safe days in Russia's skies are over.'
The conflict has seen both sides intensify their long-range attacks. Russia has increased its use of ballistic missiles, which Ukraine struggles to intercept due to a lack of ammunition for its air defense systems. In response, Ukraine has targeted Russian infrastructure, ports, and even e-commerce warehouses. Putin acknowledged the damage caused by Ukrainian strikes on Russian facilities, including refineries, but claimed that Moscow was gaining momentum on the battlefield.
Despite the escalating tensions, Zelensky offered a conditional clearance of Ukrainian drones from Russian skies. He stated that Ukraine would remove its drones 'for the sake of diplomacy, for the sake of negotiations... for specific periods of time and in specific destinations' if requested by partners. However, US-mediated efforts to end the conflict have largely stalled since the outbreak of war in the Middle East in February. Putin expressed a warmer tone towards US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, describing them as 'sincere' and 'always welcome guests here.'
