Putin and Zelenskyy Trade Statements on Strikes and Western Arms

In October 2026, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy made statements about the war in Ukraine. Putin said Russian forces were never the first to attack non-military facilities and called a proposal to stop strikes on Ukrainian vessels absurd. He also described Western arms supplies to Ukraine as a threat to Russia. Zelenskyy said Putin had told his military to abandon the rules of war.