Zelensky says Ukraine has intelligence Russia is preparing a new massive attack
President Volodymyr Zelensky said Ukrainian intelligence has information that Russia is preparing a new massive attack on Ukraine. He made the statement during a meeting with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer in New York on 22 September on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly. The two discussed security, winter preparations, air defense and sanctions, with the UK announcing a £100 million air defense package including Patriot missiles, to be delivered through the PURL mechanism.
Key points
- Zelensky said Ukrainian intelligence has information that Russia is preparing a new massive attack on Ukraine.
- He made the statement during a meeting with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer on 22 September in New York, on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly.
- Topics discussed included security, protection of Ukrainians, preparations for winter and available diplomatic opportunities.
- The UK is allocating £100 million (€116 million) for a package of air defense systems for Ukraine ahead of winter, including Patriot missiles.
- The UK air defense package will be supplied through the PURL mechanism.
- Zelensky thanked Britain for continued support of Ukraine's energy sector and noted a new British contribution ahead of winter.
- Zelensky and Starmer share the position that sanctions against Russia must be maintained and strengthened while the war continues.
Why it matters
The intelligence warning of a new massive Russian attack frames the security situation as urgent and directly shapes allied decisions on military aid and sanctions. The £100 million UK air defense package, including Patriot missiles delivered through the PURL mechanism, is a concrete pre-winter commitment. The joint rejection by Zelensky and Starmer of lifting sanctions while missile threats persist signals continued Western pressure, and the New York setting at the UN General Assembly shows Ukraine coordinating this diplomatic push across multiple partners at once.
What happened
President Volodymyr Zelensky said Ukrainian intelligence has information that Russia is preparing a new massive attack on Ukraine. He made the statement during a meeting with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer in New York on 22 September, held on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly session. The two leaders discussed security, protecting Ukrainians, preparations for winter and available diplomatic opportunities. Zelensky said Ukraine is in constant communication with partners about finding additional air defense systems and thanked Britain for its continued support of Ukraine's energy sector, noting a new contribution ahead of winter. He and Starmer agreed that sanctions against Russia must be maintained and strengthened while the war continues, with Zelensky saying there can be no talk of lifting sanctions as long as Ukrainians face daily missile and drone strikes. The UK is allocating £100 million (€116 million) for a package of air defense systems for Ukraine ahead of winter, including Patriot missiles, to be supplied through the PURL mechanism.
How Ukrainian sources describe it
The four Ukrainian outlets covering the meeting — Українська правда, НВ, Суспільне Новини and Радіо Свобода — led with the intelligence warning of a new Russian massive attack as the central headline. Ukrainian reporting frames the meeting around Ukraine's security needs: air defense, energy support ahead of winter and sanctions pressure on Russia, with Zelensky as the principal speaker.
Where reporting differs
Ukrainian sources disagree on who exactly Zelensky met in New York. Some articles identify the British Prime Minister (Keir Starmer) as his interlocutor, while others name Andy Burnham, the Mayor of Greater Manchester. The supplied Ukrainian outlets do not reconcile this difference.
Background
Zelensky had previously said US President Donald Trump is positively disposed toward granting Ukraine licenses to produce Patriot missiles, and that the US would convey Ukraine's position on an energy ceasefire to Russia. Zelensky also said he asked Trump to involve Chinese leader Xi Jinping, citing Xi's influence on Putin. Documents obtained by Politico and satellite imagery indicate Russia is expanding carbon fiber and kamikaze drone production at the Alabuga-Volokno plant in Tatarstan; one expert assessment projects an additional 28,000 combat drones per year, a 78% increase. Ukrainian estimates put current Russian production of Shahed-type drones at over 36,000 per year.