Russia is 'preparing new military operations in Europe,' Zelenskyy says as he blasts Putin's 'intellectual decline'
23 June 2025, 08:06 | Updated: 23 June 2025, 14:10
Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said intelligence suggests Russia is "preparing new military operations on European territory" more than three years after it first invaded Ukraine.
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The Ukrainian President said that he was "preparing joint decisions for defence, in particular with the United Kingdom and the European Union" in a statement on X.
He did not give any further details about Russia's alleged planned military expansion but said he will "keep our partners informed of the facts obtained by our intelligence services".
Mr Zelenksyy added that Ukraine had witnessed a "continued intellectual decline within the Russian leadership".
He also said the sanctions imposed on Russia had "tangibly damaged" its economy and was an effective method to pressurise Vladimir Putin to end the war.
It comes just hours after Russian President Vladimir Putin laid claim to all of Ukraine, threatening a nuclear strike for the first time in months.
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He told business leaders in St Petersburg: "I have said many times that I consider the Russian and Ukrainian people to be one nation.
"In this sense, all of Ukraine is ours."
Threatening a nuclear strike, Putin promised "catastrophic" consequences if Kyiv used a dirty bomb against Russian forces.
He said: "This would be a colossal mistake on the part of those whom we call neo-Nazis on the territory of today's Ukraine. It could be their last mistake.
"We always respond and respond in kind. Therefore, our response will be very tough."
It is in stark contrast to suggestions last month that Moscow could be open to a peace settlement.
Donald Trump, who had a two-hour phone call with Putin he said went "very well", claimed Russia and Ukraine will "immediately start negotiations toward a ceasefire".
Earlier this month, Sir Keir Starmer announced a series of measures aimed at ramping up pressure on Putin.
Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the G7 summit in Canada, the Prime Minister said he "strongly" believes that restrictions on the price of Russian crude oil should be strengthened to deplete its energy revenues.
He also dismissed suggestions that plans, led by Britain and France, for a "coalition of the willing" to send peacekeeping troops to Ukraine were dead in the water.
![Sir Keir Starmer has called on Vladimir Putin to "stop dragging his heels and get to the [negotiating] table", as Trump calls the Russian president "misguided."](https://images.lbc.co.uk/images/734580?width=320&crop=16_9&format=webp&signature=hCtUT-QBb1QuxMxVTF6Ch2nl6Ow=)
