Ukraine has declared a state of emergency in the country’s energy sector, with a particular focus on Kyiv, as ongoing Russian strikes continue to leave thousands of residents without power.
President Volodymyr Zelensky accused Moscow of deliberately exploiting the harsh winter conditions as part of its war strategy, with overnight temperatures in Kyiv recently dropping to around -20C.
The declaration comes as Zelensky’s US counterpart Donald Trump said he was holding up efforts to secure a peace deal to end nearly four years of war with Russia.
He told the Reuters news agency on Wednesday that Ukraine “is less ready to make a deal” than Russian president Vladimir Putin.
When asked why peace talks have not yet resolved the conflict, Trump responded: “Zelensky”.
Trump’s assessment drew approval from the Kremlin on Thursday, with spokesman Dmitry Peskov telling reporters: “President Putin and the Russian side remain open [to talks].”
The American and Ukrainian leaders are both expected to attend the World Economic Forum in Switzerland next week, although Trump suggested no formal plans were arranged for them to meet.
In recent weeks, Russian attacks on Kyiv have left thousands of homes without regular power, heating or running water. After one particularly heavy night of missile and drone attacks last week, 70% of the capital was left without power for several hours.
Following a special cabinet meeting on Wednesday, Zelensky said a round-the-clock task force would be set up to fix damage caused by Russian strikes and worsening weather conditions.
He said the new measures would include procuring vital energy equipment and resources from abroad to replace damaged installations.
Credit: bbc.com
