Zelenskyy warns Russia is preparing strikes on Ukraine’s nuclear power system

Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Sunday that Russia is taking aim at Ukraine’s nuclear power system as the Kremlin continues to try to freeze Ukraine into submission by crippling its energy grid. Zelenskyy said: "We do not see any willingness on the part of the aggressor to comply with any agreements or end the war.

Instead, there is ample information about preparations for further Russian strikes on our energy sector and infrastructure, including facilities and networks that serve our nuclear power plants." He spoke after a briefing from Ukraine’s chief of defence intelligence, Oleh Ivashchenko, the recent replacement for Kyrylo Budanov, who was made head of the president’s office.

Budanov said he had arrived in the US to discuss peace proposals and that he and negotiators Rustem Umerov and Davyd Arakhamia would meet US envoy Steve Witkoff, Jared Kushner and the US army secretary, Dan Driscoll. Zelenskyy has tasked his delegation at the Miami talks with finalising proposals about security guarantees and economic recovery, and said that if American officials approve the proposals the US and Ukraine could sign a deal next week at the World Economic Forum in Davos, according to Zelenskyy.

However, Russia has given no indication it will accept any peace deal without Ukraine’s entire Donbas region being handed over for a start. Russian attacks left at least two people dead and others injured in Kharkiv oblast on Saturday, regional authorities said.

Key Topics

World, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Russia, Ukraine, Nuclear Power Plants, Energy Infrastructure