Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has stated that the United States is advocating for an end to the conflict with Russia by June. He also indicated that representatives from both Ukraine and Russia have been invited to the U.S. for discussions scheduled for the following week.
“America has for the first time proposed that the two negotiating teams – Ukraine and Russia – meet in the United States of America, likely in Miami, within a week. We have confirmed our participation,” Zelensky announced.
While there has been no immediate official response from Washington or Moscow, U.S. President Donald Trump has been actively encouraging a resolution to the ongoing conflict since his resumption of office over a year ago. This diplomatic push occurs against a backdrop of continued Russian assaults targeting Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, which have resulted in extensive power outages amidst freezing temperatures.
Peace Talks and Territorial Disagreements
In remarks shared on Saturday, Zelensky briefed reporters on developments during the second round of U.S.-brokered peace negotiations held in Abu Dhabi. These talks concluded on Friday without any reported breakthroughs. He acknowledged that “difficult issues remain difficult,” particularly concerning territorial concessions Ukraine is reportedly under pressure to consider.
For the first time, the parties engaged in discussions regarding the possibility of a trilateral meeting involving national leaders, rather than solely representatives. However, Zelensky cautioned that “preparatory elements are needed for this” before such a high-level summit could materialize.
U.S. Diplomatic Timeline and Domestic Considerations
When questioned about a potential timeline for an agreement, the Ukrainian leader responded, “The Americans stated that they wish to complete everything by June.” He further elaborated on the timing, asking, “Why before this summer?” Zelensky suggested that “domestic issues within the U.S. will have an impact,” though he did not provide specific details regarding these concerns.
Renewed Russian Strikes on Energy Infrastructure
As diplomatic efforts persist, Russian forces have intensified their strikes on Ukraine’s energy facilities. Ukraine’s Minister of Energy, Denys Shmyhal, reported via Telegram that “Russian criminals carried out another massive attack on Ukraine’s energy facilities.”
Shmyhal specified that the targets included substations, which regulate electricity flow, and overhead power lines described as “the backbone of Ukraine’s power grid.” Power plants themselves were also reportedly hit during these coordinated attacks.
Ukraine’s state-owned energy operator, Ukrenergo, confirmed that “the power deficit in the power system of Ukraine significantly increased” as a direct consequence of these latest assaults. In response to the critical situation, Ukraine has requested emergency power supplies from neighboring Poland.
Scale of Attacks and Regional Impact
President Zelensky noted on social media that the attacks carried out on Friday night involved over 400 drones and 40 missiles. The Ukrainian military stated that while air-defense systems managed to intercept the majority of these projectiles, not all were successfully neutralized.
“The main objectives were the energy grid, generation facilities, and distribution substations,” Zelensky stated, adding that damage had been documented in at least four different regions across the country. In the western Lviv region, the Dobrotvir power plant reportedly came under attack, resulting in thousands of residents losing electricity, according to regional head Maksym Kozytskyi. He also reported that approximately 6,000 people were experiencing power outages due to regulated hourly power supply schedules.
The Burshtyn power plant, situated in the adjacent Ivano-Frankivsk region, also sustained damage. DTEK, the company managing both the Dobrotvir and Burshtyn plants, indicated that this marked the tenth “massive attack” on its facilities since October 2025. The company further noted on Telegram that its thermal power plants have been targeted by enemy forces over 220 times since the commencement of the full-scale invasion, which began nearly four years prior.
Casualties were reported in other areas, with one fatality occurring in the Rivne region and several injuries in Zaporizhzhia. Oleksandr Koval, the head of Rivne, also mentioned damage to residential properties and “critical infrastructure.” In the capital, Kyiv, residents again sought refuge in metro stations. Oksana Kykhtenko, a resident who spoke to Reuters, described the situation: “They [Russians] make us live in inhumane conditions. Without heating, without electricity.” A drone strike in Yahotyn, a town approximately 10 kilometers away, triggered a fire at a warehouse complex, according to Ukraine’s emergency services.
Ukrainian Counter-Strikes and Russian Accusations
Meanwhile, Ukraine has also conducted strikes on Russian territory, reportedly hitting a factory involved in the production of missile fuel components in the western Tver region. This information was shared by media outlets citing Ukrainian security officials.
Russia has not provided official comment on these specific attacks. Moscow had previously renewed its assaults on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure on a Monday, following a week-long cessation requested by U.S. President Donald Trump to Vladimir Putin, ostensibly due to the severe cold spell affecting Ukraine.
DTEK characterized these combined missile and drone strikes as “the most powerful blow” to infrastructure registered thus far in the current year. President Zelensky voiced his opinion on X on Saturday, stating, “Moscow must be deprived of the ability to use the cold as leverage against Ukraine,” in response to the latest attacks.
Russia has also accused Kyiv of demonstrating a lack of seriousness regarding the pursuit of a lasting peace. On Friday, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov attributed a shooting incident involving a prominent Russian general to Ukraine, suggesting it was intended to “disrupt the negotiation process.” The perpetrator behind this shooting remains unidentified.
Human Cost of the Conflict
Earlier this week, President Zelensky indicated that approximately 55,000 Ukrainian soldiers have been killed during the war. The BBC has independently confirmed the names of nearly 160,000 individuals who have died fighting on the Russian side in Ukraine.