Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy cut short an official visit to Ireland on Wednesday after warning that Russia was preparing a major new attack on Ukraine.
Speaking during the opening day of Ireland’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union in Dublin, Zelenskyy said intelligence indicated the Kremlin was planning a large-scale strike and announced he would return home immediately.
“We know that Putin has been preparing this massive strike against Ukraine for some time,”Zelenskyy told reporters during a joint press conference with Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin. “Tonight, that is the threat we are facing,” urging Ukrainians to pay close attention to air raid warnings.
Before departing, Zelenskyy thanked Ireland for its continued backing of Ukraine despite the country’s long-standing policy of military neutrality. “Throughout all these years of this war, there has been consistent support.”
His warning comes after Russia launched large-scale aerial attacks in late May and early June that killed more than 14 people and injured dozens across Ukraine.
Kyiv has faced increasing difficulty defending against Russian ballistic missile strikes in recent months as supplies of US-made Patriot air defence interceptors have dwindled, leaving parts of the country more vulnerable to sustained attacks.