Ukrainian Delegation in the U.S. for Peace Talks Amid Ongoing Attacks
KYIV, Ukraine – A Ukrainian delegation landed in the United States on Saturday to engage in discussions about a U.S.-led diplomatic initiative aimed at resolving nearly four years of conflict. This comes as Russian forces resumed attacks on Ukraine’s power grid, with subzero temperatures aggravating the situation by disrupting electricity and heating services.
Kirillo Budanov, chief of staff to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, mentioned via Telegram that he was in the U.S. to go over “the details of the peace agreement.” His agenda includes meetings with negotiators Rustem Umerov and David Alhamia, as well as U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, Jared Kushner, and U.S. Army Secretary Dan Driscoll.
President Zelensky reiterated on Friday that the Ukrainian delegation would finalize documents from U.S. officials regarding a draft peace agreement focused on post-war security and economic recovery initiatives.
At a news conference in Kyiv alongside Czech President Petr Pavel, Zelensky indicated that if U.S. officials give their approval, a signing could take place next week at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.
Meanwhile, Russian military actions targeted energy infrastructure in Ukraine’s Kyiv and Odessa regions starting Saturday night, according to the Energy Ministry. This attack left over 20 settlements in the Kyiv region without power, as reported through their official Telegram channel.
Throughout the war, Russia has inflicted considerable damage on Ukraine’s power grid, particularly in winter, employing a strategy that Kyiv officials have termed “winter weaponization.” This tactic aims to undermine the Ukrainian spirit to resist.
Denis Shmyhal, Ukraine’s new energy minister, disclosed that Russia has conducted 612 attacks on energy targets in the past year. The onslaught has ramped up recently as temperatures have plummeted to -18 degrees Celsius (0 degrees Fahrenheit).
Shmyhal added that Ukraine has put emergency measures in place, including temporarily relaxing curfews to enable citizens to access public heating centers established by the government. He emphasized that hospitals, schools, and other critical infrastructure will be prioritized for electricity and heating supplies.
Authorities have directed state energy companies like Ukrzaliznytsia, Naftogaz, and Ukroboronprom to urgently procure imported electricity to meet at least 50% of their consumption needs.
