KYIV — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has called for a "serious" and "urgent" response from Western nations following a wave of Russian drone attacks that killed at least two people and injured 35 others in the northeastern city of Kharkiv.

In a video address late Saturday, Zelenskyy said Ukraine’s allies—especially the U.S. and European nations—must recognize that the ongoing drone strikes are undermining global diplomatic efforts to end the war, now in its third year.

“We expect a response – a serious one. We are working toward a response. A strong response is urgently needed – above all from the U.S., from Europe, from everyone in the world who has placed their bets on diplomacy,” Zelenskyy said.

He warned that Russia’s strikes are not only targeting Ukrainian civilians but also "everyone who wants to end this war," accusing Moscow of deliberately attacking civilian infrastructure and derailing recent international agreements.

His remarks came after a massive drone attack on Kharkiv, where local authorities reported significant damage to a military hospital and nearby residential buildings. Ukraine’s General Staff confirmed the attack occurred late Saturday, with dozens wounded and at least two confirmed fatalities.

Ukraine’s air force said it intercepted 65 of the 111 Iranian-made drones launched by Russian forces overnight, with regions such as Sumy, Odesa, and Donetsk also affected.

Zelenskyy argued that the only way to bring Russia to the negotiating table is through increased pressure, noting that Moscow would have accepted the recently proposed U.S. ceasefire plan "if there had been real pressure."

His comments follow U.S.-brokered agreements last week in Riyadh, where both Ukraine and Russia reportedly agreed to ensure safe navigation in the Black Sea and a temporary halt to strikes on energy infrastructure.

Despite the agreements, both sides have accused each other of violating the terms. Russia has not yet commented on the latest Kharkiv attack. — Agencies