Zelenskyy urges G-7 to help protect Ukrainian air space | USA TODAY

Volodymyr Zelenskyy lobbied members of the G-7 for more weaponry and missile defense systems in a virtual emergency meeting. RELATED: Ukrainians serenaded while sheltering from Russian bombing https://bit.ly/3VjBgUk Even as Ukraine endured a second day of intensified Russian strikes condemned by the U.N. and the Group of Seven leaders, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy outlined Tuesday a plan to end the war -- and it doesn't involve negotiating with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. Addressing an emergency virtual summit of the G-7 called after Monday's barrage on Ukrainian power plants and civilian areas, Zelenskyy warned that Putin may yet escalate his attack now that he has ordered 2,400 Shahed drones from Iran. "This possibility is a threat to all of us,'' Zelenskyy said before presenting his three-point "peace formula.'' It calls for the West to provide weapons that would allow Ukraine to create a defensive "air shield,'' protecting the country's territorial integrity and punishing Russia for its invasion with stronger sanctions and political isolation. "Such steps can bring peace closer,'' Zelenskyy said. "They will encourage the terrorist state to think about peace, about the unprofitability of war.'' However, Zelenskyy dismissed the notion of holding peace talks with Putin, saying he's "in the final stage of his reign'' and "only believes in terror.'' » Subscribe to USA TODAY: http://bit.ly/1xa3XAh » Watch more on this and other topics from USA TODAY: https://bit.ly/3HZIYge » USA TODAY delivers current local and national news, sports, entertainment, finance, technology, and more through award-winning journalism, photos, videos and VR. #Ukraine #Russia #Military