Russia plotting 'massive strike' during midterms, Zelenskyy warns, urges US to stop Putin

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned Monday that Russia is preparing a "massive attack" on Ukraine centered on Tuesday's midterm elections in the United States, accusing Moscow of seeking to exploit the historical vote to unleash strikes while the world's attention is elsewhere.

The Ukrainian leader's warning came as voters prepared to decide which party controls Congress, a result that could also influence Washington's future response to Russian President Vladimir Putin's almost five-year war in Ukraine.

In a post on X, Zelenskyy went on to urge the Trump administration to increase pressure on Moscow, warning that Russia could exploit the elections to target Ukraine's battered energy infrastructure and supply routes.

DRONE STRIKE SINKS SHIP IN NATO WATERS AS ZELENSKYY WARNS OF LOOMING MASSIVE STRIKE

"We have intel that Russia is preparing a new massive attack on our country – primarily targeting energy and logistics," Zelenskyy said in his nightly address.

"The assumption is basically that tomorrow the world will be watching the American midterms, and what is happening here in Ukraine, along with our difficulties with air defense and Patriot missiles, will be overlooked."

Zelenskyy's warning came hours after Russian forces struck a school being used to distribute humanitarian aid in Komyshuvakha, a settlement in southeastern Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia region.

At least 26 people, including police officers and first responders, were killed, five others were injured and others remained missing, according to the Ukrainian news outlet Ukrainska Pravda.

ZELENSKYY PRESSURES US AND EUROPE FOR MORE 'AIR DEFENSE' ASSISTANCE AMID ONGOING WAR WITH RUSSIA

In his X post, Zelenskyy urged the U.S. and its allies to warn Putin that continued attacks on Ukraine would bring serious economic consequences.

"We need signals from the world to Russia that will make them feel that terror is no good, that it will bring no gains, and that as long as this war continues, their oil will burn, and they will not be able to make money doing business with the world," Zelenskyy warned.

"We must not play games with Russia's oil or gas revenues," he added.

"We must put pressure on Russia in such a way that it has no alternative but to end this war. America can do this."

TRUMP ANNOUNCES IMMEDIATE ENERGY CEASEFIRE BETWEEN RUSSIA AND UKRAINE

President Donald Trump, meanwhile, has sought to negotiate an end to the war with the help of special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, both of whom have been involved in diplomatic efforts with Moscow.

Zelenskyy told Fox News in a Sunday interview that Ukraine would suspend strikes on Russian oil refineries for a month if Washington provided Patriot missile interceptors during the same period, potential