Russian President Vladimir Putin issued a stern warning to Ukraine, stating that Moscow would not hesitate to achieve the objectives of its special military operation "by force" if Kyiv refused to resolve the conflict peacefully.
Putin said that Russia could see Ukraine was in no hurry to end the conflict by peaceful means, according to a report by the Interfax news agency on Saturday.
His statement comes ahead of a crucial meeting between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and U.S. President Donald Trump in Alaska on Sunday.
Earlier, in response to Russia's recent missile and drone attacks on Kyiv, Zelenskyy labeled Putin a "man of war."
"We want peace, and he is a man of war," he said.
Russia had launched several Kinzhal hypersonic missiles, four Iskander ballistic missiles, and a series of Kalibr cruise missiles at the Ukrainian capital on Friday. According to CNN, the assault lasted more than 10 hours, disrupting daily life in Kyiv and causing widespread power outages that lasted for several hours.
During his meeting with Trump, Zelenskyy is expected to present a 20-point peace plan aimed at ending the nearly four-year-long conflict. Trump has indicated that any peace proposal would require his "approval."
Meanwhile, Zelenskyy held discussions with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and leaders from NATO and the European Union.
"Strong positions are needed both on the frontlines and in diplomacy to prevent Putin from manipulating and avoiding a real and just end to the war. The world has enough strength to guarantee security and peace," he wrote on X following the meetings.
Zelenskyy stated that the talks with Trump would focus on long-term security guarantees for Ukraine and the role of its allies in ensuring stability after the war.