In a scathing statement issued Tuesday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky accused Russia of reneging on a specific agreement brokered with U.S. President Donald Trump to suspend strikes on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure during the harsh winter months.
The accusation follows a massive Russian aerial assault on Kyiv, launched just 24 hours before scheduled high-level talks between Russia, Ukraine, and the United States in Abu Dhabi. The bombardment caused significant damage across five city districts and left at least nine people injured. Residents reported heavy explosions beginning at 1:00 AM, with air raid sirens active for over five hours.
Violation of Diplomatic Assurances
According to President Zelensky, Russia intentionally leveraged the coldest days of winter to terrorize civilians, a move he claims undermines ongoing diplomatic efforts. He emphasized that Vladimir Putin had personally been asked by President Trump to halt attacks on the power grid during the freeze—a commitment Moscow has now demonstrably broken.
“Russia has violated the agreement made with Trump to stop attacks on cities and energy infrastructure, particularly given the low temperatures,” Zelensky stated.
The President revealed the staggering scale of the recent offensive, noting that Russia deployed a record 71 ballistic missiles and 450 drones, specifically targeting the capital’s energy facilities.
Calls for Urgent Defense Support
The timing of the escalation has cast a shadow over the Abu Dhabi peace process. While Zelensky reiterated that Ukraine remains open to negotiations, he argued that Russia’s actions prove it is only interested in “playing through war.” He issued an urgent appeal for increased supplies of air defense missiles to protect the lives of Ukrainian citizens.
NATO Response
In Kyiv, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte condemned the strikes, accusing Moscow of attempting to manufacture “chaos and pain” for innocent civilians. Rutte described the timing of the attack as a “bad signal” ahead of the Abu Dhabi summit and questioned Russia’s sincerity regarding a peaceful resolution.
Despite international pressure, the first round of meetings this month failed to yield a breakthrough, as tensions on the ground continue to escalate at a critical turning point in the conflict.
