October 25, 2025

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy made a fiery call on Friday, October 25, 2025, asking the United States to widen sanctions on Russian oil from just two companies to the entire sector. Speaking in London, Zelenskyy appealed for long-range missiles to strike deep inside Russia, a bold move to push back against ongoing attacks. Zelenskyy was in the UK capital meeting more than 20 European leaders, all pledging to support Ukraine with military help to protect against future Russian attacks if a ceasefire ever happens. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer hosted this high-stakes meeting, aiming to increase pressure on Russian President Vladimir Putin by boosting recent sanctions on Russia's crucial oil and gas export income. The discussions also focused on protecting Ukraine’s power grid from almost daily Russian drone and missile strikes as cold winter looms. Strengthening air defenses and supplying Kyiv with longer-range missiles, like the US Tomahawk, were key topics. Zelenskyy praised President Trump’s recent oil sanctions, calling it “a big step,” but added, “we have to apply pressure not only to Rosneft and Lukoil, but to all Russian oil companies.” He also revealed Ukraine is attacking Russia’s oil sector too, saying, “we are carrying out our own campaign of pressure with drones and missiles specifically targeting the Russian oil sector.” Meanwhile, Trump paused plans for a quick meeting with Putin in Budapest, calling it a “waste of time.” Putin continues to refuse peace talks and claims his invasion motives are justified. Russia skillfully finds loopholes to slip past Western sanctions. In a surprising development, Kirill Dmitriev, Putin’s envoy for investment and economic cooperation, arrived in the US for talks with American officials. Dmitriev took to social media platform X to call the trip “planned a while ago” on a US invitation. He will meet with White House envoy Steve Witkoff. Dmitriev has been a key player in past talks between the Kremlin and the Trump administration on issues like the Ukraine war and American detainee releases. The West remains frustrated with Putin’s stubbornness. Starmer said, “He's rejected the opportunity for talks once again, instead making ludicrous demands for Ukrainian land, which he could not and has not taken by force. Of course, that is a complete non-starter.” NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte added, Putin “is running out of money, troops and ideas.” Attending the “Coalition of the Willing” meeting in person were Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof, with about 20 other leaders joining online. Looking ahead, Ukraine’s allies face tough questions about future funding, security guarantees, and US commitments as the war nears its fourth year. The meeting aimed to shape a future “reassurance force” to support Ukraine, likely with air and naval help and training, instead of Western troops on Ukrainian soil. UK Defense Secretary John Healey described it as “a force to help secure the skies, secure the seas, a force to help train Ukrainian forces to defend their nation.” The war still rages fiercely. Russia claims to have captured ten Ukrainian villages last week as it slowly advances in the Donetsk region. Its military also said it shot down 111 Ukrainian drones overnight, with falling debris damaging homes and infrastructure. In Moscow, Mayor Sergei Sobyanin reported that Russian air defenses intercepted three drones headed for the city, causing flight suspensions at two airports. On the Ukrainian side, Russian strikes hit a residential block in Kherson, killing two and injuring 22, and bombed Kharkiv with powerful glide bombs, injuring six people. For the first time, Russia fired glide bombs on Ukraine’s southern Odesa region, a “new, serious threat” according to Odesa’s military head, Oleh Kiper. These glide bombs are cheaper than missiles but pack a heavier punch. As winter approaches and the bullets keep flying, Zelenskyy and his allies ramp up their fight, determined to keep Ukraine standing tall against Russia’s relentless push.

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Tags: Zelenskyy, Russia sanctions, Us missiles, Ukraine war, European leaders, Russian attacks,