Kyiv, Jan 19 (NationPress) Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky emphasized that if Russia truly aimed to conclude the war, it would engage in diplomacy rather than resorting to missile strikes, blackouts, or attempts to compromise Ukraine’s nuclear facilities.

He highlighted reports regarding the locations Russia has surveyed in preparation for strikes, asserting that all evidence indicates that “diplomacy is not a priority for Russia.”

In a national address, Zelensky stated, “The primary target for Russia remains our energy sector. Nearly 58,000 people are tirelessly working on the power grids, generation facilities, and heating networks. Resources from Ukrzaliznytsia and other state-owned entities have been mobilized. For Kyiv, facing a particularly challenging situation, an extra 50 crews from across the nation have been deployed.”

“Numerous homes still lack heating, and teams are dispatched to each location manually to provide necessary equipment. The conditions are also tough in the Kyiv region, especially in the northern areas and the Boryspil district. Additionally, border and frontline regions face complications due to ongoing shelling and strikes, specifically in Kharkiv, Chernihiv, Sumy, Dnipro, and Zaporizhia - these areas receive special attention. Substantial efforts were made in Poltava and Odessa to stabilize the energy situation,” he elaborated.

Zelensky further mentioned that the Ukrainian delegation, which included the head of Ukraine's National Security and Defence Council, Rustem Umerov, reported on discussions with representatives of former US President Donald Trump.

“There have been multiple rounds of negotiations, and documents crucial for concluding the war are being prepared. It is vital that the Ukrainian team keeps the American side fully informed about developments in Ukraine and the continuous Russian assaults on our energy infrastructure,” he remarked.

Meanwhile, Umerov shared on social media platform X that over two days, the Ukrainian delegation, which featured Presidential Office chief Kyrylo Budanov and Chairman of the Servant of the People parliamentary faction David Arakhamia, conducted discussions in the United States.

“On the American side, the consultations involved Special Envoy for Peace Missions Steve Witkoff, Jared Kushner, U.S. Secretary of the Army Dan Driscoll, and White House staff member Josh Gruenbaum. We engaged in meaningful discussions regarding economic development and prosperity plans, alongside security guarantees for Ukraine, emphasizing practical mechanisms for their implementation and enforcement,” Umerov stated.

“We briefed our American partners about recent strikes on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure by Russia. We agreed to continue collaborative efforts at the team level during the next consultations in Davos,” he concluded.