Russia once again punished the residents of kyiv in the early hours of Saturday with a massive bombing that lasted ten hours. President Zelensky, already on his way to his meeting with Trump in Florida, denounced the launch of more than 500 drones and … 40 missiles against his country. The main objective was, once again, the electricity and gas infrastructure.
Russia has launched waves of attacks against Ukraine’s energy sector with the aim of demoralizing Ukrainian citizens and causing economic losses. Two people died in the capital and the injured numbered 32. In a condemning message posted on social media, the Ukrainian leader said that “Russian representatives have long conversations, but in reality the kinzhals and shaheds speak on their behalf.”
The consequences of the attack affected the Ukrainian capital with interruptions in water and electricity supplies. “In and around kyiv, energy sector workers are restoring electricity to around 600,000 consumers,” the prime minister said. Yulia Sviridenko.
The Russian attack also hit the facilities of Naftogaz, the national gas company. The director, Sergiy Koretsky, He specified that “these attacks are synchronized with the cold wave: the enemy tries to take advantage of the frost and the peak load to deactivate the system.”
Zelensky says the attack is a clear sign that the Kremlin does not want to “end the war and seeks to take advantage of any opportunity to cause even more suffering to Ukraine.” The head of state, on the eve of his meeting with the North American president, stressed that his country had shown its willingness to commit to ending the war by accepting various proposals sponsored by Washington.
Before the meeting with Trump, Zelensky stopped in Canada to speak with Prime Minister Mark Carney. There, the two leaders held a virtual meeting with the rest of the European leaders to coordinate the “sensitive issues” contained in the documents.
The general feeling among European officials is that the meeting between the presidents of the United States and Ukraine will be resolved positively. But given the volatility of the Republican Party, the ultimate outcome is uncertain.
Security and territories
One of the main issues on the agenda concerns security guarantees for Ukraine once a possible peace deal is reached. Ukraine wants to achieve a mechanism similar to NATO Article 5. According to the Axios newspaper, Washington has proposed that this agreement be in force for 15 years, but kyiv is seeking to extend it longer.
Ukraine’s president says security arrangements are ‘almost ready’, while Ukraine’s 20-point project is 90% complete For his part, Trump stressed that the Ukrainian president “doesn’t have anything until I approve it.”
The second problem between the partners concerns the territories. The White House has proposed a sort of demilitarized zone that would force the withdrawal of kyiv’s forces from the Donetsk region. kyiv, for its part, wants invading forces to also withdraw from this area to a similar distance. A request that the United States considers complex to carry out. Ukraine currently controls less than 30 percent of this province. Zelensky mentioned that among the issues awaiting resolution is also the control of the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant.
An agreement ratified by citizens
The Ukrainian head of state stressed that the final agreement on all these issues must be ratified by citizens. “Before making a decision, we will communicate with our people, because the Ukrainian people have the last word. “It’s a referendum or some legislative changes.” In order to proceed with the hypothetical vote to ratify the peace agreement, kyiv is proposing a ceasefire of at least two months, a period that the Russians consider too long.
“Before making a decision, we will communicate with our people, because the Ukrainian people have the last word”
Volodymyr Zelensky
President of Ukraine
Mid-afternoon Saturday, Zelensky said he was discussing a “road map for Ukraine’s prosperity” with the United States. An investment and reconstruction plan that would extend until 2040. The main points of this document are the return of refugees, job creation, increase in GDP per capita, integration into the European Union and economic stability, in addition to security guarantees.
“There will be a Ukrainian Construction Fund, a Ukrainian Sovereign Investment Platform, a Ukrainian Development Fund and a Fund for Ukrainian Growth and Opportunities,” the Ukrainian leader stressed in a message published on social networks.
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