Russia has largely respected a ceasefire over Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Monday, as Kiev prepares for the next round of trilateral talks on how to end the war.
Zelenskiy said Russia had not carried out any missile or drone attacks on Ukrainian energy infrastructure in the past 24 hours, although energy facilities in front-line areas had been targeted.
“The détente measures… are helping to build public confidence in the negotiation process and its possible outcome. The war must be brought to an end,” Zelenskiy said after meeting with his negotiating team ahead the next round of peace talks with Russian and US officials, scheduled for this week in Abu Dhabi.
Take advantage of the stock market rise!
“Ukraine is ready for concrete measures. We believe it is realistic to achieve a dignified and lasting peace.”
Russia and Ukraine said last week that they had suspended attacks on each other’s energy infrastructure, but disagreed on the timing of the truce.
The Kremlin said US President Donald Trump made a personal request to Russian President Vladimir Putin to refrain from attacking Kiev until February 1. Zelenskiy said the truce should last for a week, starting January 30.
Continues after advertising
Ukraine struggles to restore power supply
Ukraine is struggling to restore its damaged energy system and secure electricity and heat supplies for its population following several high-profile Russian attacks this month. Repair work has been complicated by the extremely low temperatures.
“Today we are reaching a critical point. We need some time to recover what was destroyed in the last three months,” Maxim Timchenko, chief executive of private power generator DTEK, told Reuters.
‘The energy ceasefire is extremely important for us to partially recover and avoid tragic consequences due to the lack of energy supply.’
DTEK said on Monday that one of its coal mining companies in the Dnipropetrovsk region had been attacked for the second time in 24 hours. The previous attack, on Sunday, killed 12 miners at a coal mine in the region, the company said.
Zelenskiy also said that Russian forces were focusing on attacking transportation logistics, especially railway infrastructure.
Regional authorities said a Russian strike killed a father and son and injured two children and their mother in the front-line Donetsk region.
Continues after advertising
