Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has revealed that the United States wants the war with Russia to end by June, announcing that both sides have been invited to Washington for talks next week.
“America proposed for the first time that the two negotiating teams – Ukraine and Russia – meet in the United States of America, probably in Miami, in a week. We confirmed our participation,” Zelensky said.
There was no immediate comment from Washington or Moscow. However, US President Donald Trump has been advocating for an end to the conflict since resuming office more than a year ago.
Meanwhile, Russia continued its attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, causing widespread blackouts amid freezing temperatures.
Speaking on Saturday, Zelensky provided details of the second round of US-brokered peace talks in Abu Dhabi, which concluded on Friday without a breakthrough.
“Difficult issues remained difficult,” he said, referring to territorial concessions Ukraine is under pressure to make.
He added that the parties discussed, for the first time, the possibility of a trilateral meeting between leaders, rather than just representatives, but warned that “preparatory elements are needed for this.”
Asked if a timeline for an agreement had been set, Zelensky replied: “The Americans say that they want to do everything by June.”
“Why before this summer?” he continued. “We understand that their domestic issues in the US will have an impact.” Zelensky was referring to the November midterm elections, which could shift the balance of power in Washington.
As diplomacy continues, Russian attacks on Ukraine’s energy sector have persisted.
“Russian criminals carried out another massive attack on Ukraine’s energy facilities,” Ukraine’s Energy Minister Denys Shmyhal wrote on Telegram.
Substations controlling the flow of electricity and overhead power lines forming “the backbone of Ukraine’s power grid” were targeted, he said, alongside power plants. Ukraine’s state-owned energy operator, Ukrenergo, confirmed that “the power deficit in the power system of Ukraine significantly increased” following the attacks.
Shmyhal added that neighbouring Poland had been asked for emergency power supplies.
Zelensky said Friday night’s assault involved more than 400 drones and 40 missiles. “The main targets were the energy grid, generation facilities, and distribution substations,” he said, noting damage in at least four regions. Air-defence systems intercepted most, but not all, of the incoming missiles.
In Lviv, the Dobrotvir power plant was struck, leaving thousands without electricity, according to regional head Maksym Kozytskyi. “At least 6,000 people were without power as a result of hourly power outage schedules,” he said.
The nearby Burshtyn power plant in Ivano-Frankivsk was also hit. DTEK, operator of both plants, said it was the tenth “massive attack” on its facilities since October 2025. “In total, DTEK thermal power plants have been attacked by the enemy more than 220 times since the beginning of the full-scale invasion,” the company said on Telegram.
One person was killed in the Rivne region, while several others were injured in Zaporizhzhia. Rivne’s regional head, Oleksandr Koval, reported damage to homes and “critical infrastructure.”
In Kyiv, residents sought shelter once more in metro stations. Oksana Kykhtenko told Reuters: “They [Russians] make us live in inhumane conditions. Without heating, without electricity.”
A drone strike in Yahotyn, around 10km from Kyiv, caused a fire at a warehouse complex, the Ukrainian emergency services said.
Ukraine has also struck Russian targets, hitting a factory producing missile fuel components in the western Tver region and an oil depot in the Saratov region, according to Ukrainian security officials cited by local media. Moscow has yet to comment.
Moscow resumed attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure on Monday following a temporary pause requested by Trump, who asked Russian President Vladimir Putin to observe the ceasefire due to the harsh winter. Trump said the pause lasted one week, ending last Sunday, but Kyiv disputes the timeline.
DTEK described the combined missile and drone strikes as “the most powerful blow” to Ukrainian infrastructure this year. Zelensky wrote on X: “Moscow must be deprived of the ability to use the cold as leverage against Ukraine.”
Russia has accused Kyiv of obstructing peace efforts. Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov blamed Ukraine for the shooting of a high-profile Russian general, claiming it aimed to “disrupt the negotiation process,” though the perpetrators remain unknown.
Since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022, Zelensky said some 55,000 Ukrainian soldiers have been killed. Nearly 160,000 Russian soldiers’ deaths in the conflict have been confirmed.
Boluwatife Enome
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