SHOTLIST

KYIV, UKRAINE (SEPTEMBER 2, 2025) (USERS MUST CREDIT “UKRAINIAN PRESIDENCY” HANDOUT, MUST NOT OBSCURE LOGO — EDITORIAL USE ONLY)

1. (SOUNDBITE) (Ukrainian) UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY SAYING:

“The military: reports have been coming in since morning, in particular, from the Commander of the Air Force about the drone interception. The brazenness of the Russians keeps growing – they are attacking Ukraine more and more often in broad daylight with dozens of strike drones. Last night there were 150 drones; this morning over fifty more; in the evening dozens more, and most of them were ‘shaheds’.”

2. WHITE FLASH

3. (SOUNDBITE) (Ukrainian) UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY SAYING:

“In fact, swarms of Russian drones in our skies serve as an accompaniment to Russia’s statements from China. An open disregard by Russia for everything the world is doing to stop this war.”

4. WHITE FLASH

5. (SOUNDBITE) (Ukrainian) UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY SAYING:

“Yesterday, the Russians literally denied what President Trump said about the leaders’ meeting that is needed to end the war. These days in China, Putin keeps spinning his tales – as if he is not responsible for the war. As if someone always 'forces' him to fight, to kill, to drive children into shelters, to send thousands of people to storm our positions.”

6. WHITE FLASH

7. (SOUNDBITE) (Ukrainian) UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY SAYING:

“And now we see another buildup of Russian forces in some sectors of the front. The only thing he refuses to be 'forced' into is peace. Russia continues to launch strikes.”

8. WHITE FLASH

9. (SOUNDBITE) (Ukrainian) UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY SAYING:

“Of course, we will respond. We will respond, including asymmetrically as well, so that Russia truly feels the consequences of its audacity. And we continue working with our partners to put pressure on Russia – and that will happen. Russia hears nothing but strength, and it will keep lying until its losses are heavy enough. All our partners understand this.”

KYIV, UKRAINE (SEPTEMBER 2, 2025) (USERS MUST CREDIT “UKRAINIAN PRESIDENCY” HANDOUT, MUST NOT OBSCURE LOGO — EDITORIAL USE ONLY) Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Tuesday, Sep.2, accused Russia of intensifying its military activity along the frontline and increasing the frequency of drone attacks on Ukrainian territory.

Speaking in a televised address, Zelenskyy said Russian forces had launched swarms of Iranian-made “Shahed” drones across Ukraine in a series of strikes over the past 24 hours.

“The brazenness of the Russians keeps growing – they are attacking Ukraine more and more often in broad daylight with dozens of strike drones,” Zelenskyy stated. “Last night there were 150 drones; this morning over fifty more; in the evening dozens more.”

He described the drone assaults as coinciding with Russia’s diplomatic efforts in China, where Russian President Vladimir Putin is currently on a four-day official visit.

“In fact, swarms of Russian drones in our skies serve as an accompaniment to Russia’s statements from China,” Zelenskyy said. “An open disregard by Russia for everything the world is doing to stop this war.”

Zelenskyy also accused Putin of avoiding responsibility for the conflict in Ukraine. “Putin keeps spinning his tales – as if he is not responsible for the war, as if someone always 'forces' him to fight,” he said, adding that Russia was continuing to build up its military presence along certain parts of the front.

He emphasized that Ukraine would respond to the increased aggression, including through “asymmetric” means. “Russia hears nothing but strength, and it will keep lying until its losses are heavy enough,” he added.

Meanwhile, in Beijing, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping met on Tuesday and pledged to deepen their countries’ “comprehensive strategic partnership,” according to a Kremlin statement.

The talks, held during Putin’s official visit to China, reportedly included discussions on the ongoing war in Ukraine as well as the recent meeting between Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump in Anchorage, Alaska.

Putin is also scheduled to participate in commemorative events marking the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II and Japan’s surrender in 1945.

Before arriving in Beijing, the Russian leader attended the 25th summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) in the Chinese city of Tianjin on Aug. 31–Sept. 1.

Zelenskyy noted that Russian officials had recently contradicted remarks made by President Trump regarding the potential for a leaders’ summit to end the war in Ukraine.

“The only thing [Putin] refuses to be ‘forced’ into is peace,” Zelenskyy said.

Writing by Sibel Uygun