Kyiv, Ukraine. President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said Russia has largely observed a ceasefire on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure as Kyiv prepared for the next round of trilateral talks on ending the war. He said there had been no targeted missile or drone strikes on energy infrastructure in the past 24 hours, though shelling continued near the front line.
Ceasefire claims and continued shelling
Zelenskiy said steady Russian shelling hit energy facilities near the front line. In his nightly video address, he said Russian forces continued to shell Ukrainian positions and logistics, damaging transmission lines and other sites in parts of the southeastern Dnipropetrovsk and Zaporizhzhia regions.
Talks in Abu Dhabi and negotiation outlook
Zelenskiy spoke after meeting his negotiating team ahead of peace talks with Russian and U.S. officials scheduled to take place this week in Abu Dhabi. He said de-escalation measures were helping to build public trust in the negotiation process and its possible outcome, adding that Ukraine was ready for real steps and that a dignified and lasting peace was realistic.
Dispute over timeframe for truce
Russia and Ukraine said last week they halted strikes on each other’s energy infrastructure, but disagreed on the timeframe. The Kremlin said U.S. President Donald Trump made a personal request to Russian President Vladimir Putin to refrain from striking Kyiv until February 1, while Zelenskiy said the truce was supposed to last for a week starting January 30.
Impact of U.S. efforts and energy restoration challenges
Zelenskiy said the pause in strikes on energy infrastructure showed U.S. efforts to pursue negotiations were having an impact. Ukraine is struggling to restore its damaged energy system and secure electricity and heat after several large Russian strikes this month, with repairs complicated by bitterly cold temperatures.
What outcome do you expect from the Abu Dhabi talks between Ukrainian, Russian and U.S. officials?
