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US proposes June deadline for Ukraine-Russia war resolution
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky disclosed on Saturday that the United States has set a target to end the war with Russia by June, inviting both nations to negotiations in Miami next week.
Speaking to reporters, Zelensky confirmed Ukraine's participation in the US-brokered talks, which would mark the first direct meeting between the two sides on American soil. "America proposed for the first time that the two negotiating teams meet in the United States, probably in Miami, in a week," he said. Neither Washington nor Moscow has officially responded to the invitation.
Diplomatic hurdles persist despite US pressure
The announcement follows a second round of peace talks in Abu Dhabi, which concluded on Friday without progress. Zelensky described "difficult issues" remaining unresolved, particularly territorial concessions that Ukraine faces pressure to accept.
For the first time, discussions included the possibility of a trilateral summit between leaders, though Zelensky cautioned that "preparatory elements" were still needed. When asked about the June timeline, he cited US domestic politics, including the November midterm elections, as a factor. "We understand that their domestic issues will have an impact," he said.
Russian strikes cripple Ukraine's energy grid amid freezing temperatures
While diplomacy stalls, Russia intensified attacks on Ukraine's energy infrastructure, triggering widespread blackouts. Energy Minister Denys Shmyhal reported that substations, power lines, and generation facilities were targeted in Friday's assault, which involved over 400 drones and 40 missiles.
Ukrenergo, Ukraine's state-owned energy operator, warned of a "significant power deficit" following the strikes. Poland was asked to provide emergency electricity supplies. Zelensky confirmed damage in at least four regions, including Lviv and Ivano-Frankivsk, where the Dobrotvir and Burshtyn power plants were hit.
"The main targets were the energy grid, generation facilities, and distribution substations."
Volodymyr Zelensky
Civilian toll mounts as attacks escalate
In Lviv, 6,000 residents faced hourly power outages after the Dobrotvir plant was struck. DTEK, the operator of both plants, called it the "10th massive attack" on its facilities since October 2025, with thermal power plants hit over 220 times since Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022.
One fatality was reported in Rivne, while several injuries occurred in Zaporizhzhia. Kyiv residents, including Oksana Kykhtenko, took shelter in metro stations. "They [Russians] make us live in inhumane conditions. Without heating, without electricity," she told Reuters.
A drone strike in Yahotyn, near Kyiv, sparked a warehouse fire, according to emergency services.
Ukraine retaliates as Moscow denies negotiation sincerity
Ukraine struck back, targeting a missile fuel factory in Russia's Tver region and an oil depot in Saratov, according to Ukrainian security officials. Russia has not commented on the attacks.
Moscow resumed strikes on Ukraine's energy infrastructure after a brief pause requested by US President Donald Trump, who claimed the truce lasted a week. Kyiv disputed the timeline. DTEK described the latest assault as "the most powerful blow" to infrastructure this year.
Zelensky condemned the attacks, writing on X: "Moscow must be deprived of the ability to use the cold as leverage against Ukraine."
Russia, however, accused Kyiv of undermining peace efforts. Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov blamed Ukraine for the shooting of a high-ranking Russian general, calling it an attempt to "disrupt the negotiation process." The perpetrator remains unidentified.
Casualties rise as war enters fourth year
Zelensky revealed this week that 55,000 Ukrainian soldiers have been killed since Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022. The BBC has verified the deaths of nearly 160,000 Russian fighters in the conflict.
