Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy abruptly ended his visit to Ireland on Wednesday, July 1, after warning that intelligence indicated Russia was preparing a major attack on Ukraine.
The president announced he would immediately return home after receiving what he described as fresh intelligence about an impending large-scale Russian strike.
In a statement shared on social media after meeting Irish Taoiseach Micheál Martin in Dublin, Zelenskyy urged Ukrainians to remain alert and follow air raid warnings.
Ukraine Warns Russia Is Preparing a Massive Strike
“Today, we have information about another massive Russian strike – we have relevant intelligence data,” Zelenskyy wrote. “And immediately after this conversation, I am returning to Ukraine.”
He appealed to people across the country to prioritize their safety as the threat of another large-scale assault grew.
“Today, I ask our people in Ukraine to be especially careful – stay safe and protect your families and children – be sure to take shelter and pay attention to air-raid alerts in Ukraine,” he said.
According to Zelenskyy, Ukrainian intelligence believes Russian President Vladimir Putin has been preparing the operation for some time.
“We know that Putin has been preparing a massive strike against Ukraine for some time. That is exactly the threat we are facing tonight,” he said.
Zelenskyy Says Putin Rejects Peace Negotiations
The Ukrainian leader also accused Moscow of rejecting opportunities to end the war.
He said Kyiv had repeatedly communicated its readiness to hold meaningful negotiations through both official and unofficial channels to end the conflict.
“Russia’s head is completely refusing to end the war,” Zelenskyy said.
“And although through all possible official and unofficial channels, including through people close to him, we have conveyed that the war can and must be ended, and that we in Ukraine are ready for meetings and meaningful negotiations, he sees only further aggression against Ukraine and against other neighbors and Europe as a whole.”
Why Ukraine Believes the Threat Is Immediate
Zelenskyy made similar remarks earlier during a joint press conference with Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin before announcing his departure.
His visit coincided with events marking Ireland’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union.
During the meeting, Zelenskyy thanked Ireland for its continued political and humanitarian support since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022.
Despite maintaining a long-standing policy of military neutrality, Ireland has provided humanitarian assistance, financial support and welcomed thousands of Ukrainian refugees throughout the conflict.
The warning comes as Ukraine continues to face frequent Russian missile and drone attacks targeting cities, energy infrastructure and military facilities.
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In recent months, Moscow has intensified overnight aerial assaults using combinations of ballistic missiles, cruise missiles and long-range drones.
Politico reports that some of the deadliest attacks occurred in late May and early June, when Russian strikes killed civilians and damaged residential neighborhoods across several Ukrainian regions.
Ukraine has also continued to warn that its air defense systems remain under pressure as it works to intercept repeated waves of incoming missiles.
Officials have previously said the country needs additional Western air defense systems and interceptor missiles to strengthen protection against large-scale attacks.
What a New Russian Offensive Could Mean for Ukraine and Europe
The latest warning from Zelenskyy comes at a time when diplomatic efforts to end the war remain stalled.
Ukraine has maintained that any negotiations must respect its sovereignty and territorial integrity, while Russia has continued military operations across multiple fronts.
Zelenskyy said Ukraine remains willing to pursue talks but insisted Moscow has shown no willingness to stop the fighting.
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His decision to cut short the visit to Ireland hints at the seriousness with which Ukrainian authorities are treating the latest intelligence assessment.
No further details about the reported intelligence were released, and Ukrainian authorities did not specify where they believe Russia may target.
The Kremlin had not publicly responded to Zelenskyy’s latest statements at the time of publication.
