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He also said he was pushing partners to get more directly involved, opens new tab in the war by helping to intercept Russian missiles over Ukraine and allowing Kyiv to use Western weapons against enemy military equipment amassing near the border.
An impassioned Zelenskiy, dressed in his familiar khaki T-shirt and trousers, said the situation on the battlefield was "one of the most difficult" he had known since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022.
He added, however, that the situation north of Kharkiv was now "under control".
"Every decision to which we, then later everyone together, comes to is late by around one year," said Zelenskiy.
"But it is what it is: one big step forward, but before that two steps back. So we need to change the paradigm a little bit."
Zelenskiy said he wanted his partners to be more directly involved in the war, but understood they were wary of antagonising Russia.
"It's a question of will," he said. "But everyone says a word that sounds the same in every language: everyone is scared of escalation. Everyone has gotten used to the fact that Ukrainians are dying – that's not escalation for people."
He proposed that the armed forces of neighbouring NATO countries could intercept incoming Russian missiles over Ukrainian territory to help Kyiv protect itself.
"Russians are using 300 planes on the territory of Ukraine. We need at least 120, 130 planes to resist in the sky," he said. Ukraine is waiting for the delivery of U.S.-designed F-16s which have yet to be used in anger.
The Ukrainian leader also said Kyiv was negotiating with international partners to use their weapons to strike Russian military hardware at the border and further inside Russian territory.
"So far, there is nothing positive," he said.
Zelenskiy reiterated that he had not broken agreements with allies not to use their weapons inside Russia.
"We can't put the whole volume of weapons at risk."
