Kyiv, December 14 — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Sunday that Russia continues to attack Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, leaving hundreds of thousands of families without electricity, heating and water as Kyiv prepares for a series of high-level diplomatic meetings. Zelenskyy said emergency and utility crews have been working around the clock since Friday to restore services following fresh strikes, and thanked repair teams for their efforts. He added that attacks carried out overnight wounded civilians.
Zelenskyy described the campaign as part of a deliberate effort to drag out the war and inflict maximum harm on the civilian population. He said that, over the past week alone, Russia launched more than 1,500 attack drones, nearly 900 guided aerial bombs and 46 missiles of various types against Ukraine.
Despite the strikes, Zelenskyy said Ukraine remains committed to pursuing peace through diplomacy and is preparing for key meetings with U.S. and European partners in the coming days, many of which will take place in Berlin. He said the next days will be focused on diplomatic work and emphasized the importance of achieving concrete results.
Zelenskyy said Defence Minister Rustem Umerov will brief him and the negotiating team on contacts already held, while military and security officials, including General Hnatov, will work on the technical details of security guarantees for Ukraine. He reiterated that Ukraine seeks a dignified peace and firm guarantees preventing future Russian aggression, saying the aim is to ensure Russia cannot mount a third invasion.
The president also said talks with Western partners will cover Ukraine’s recovery and development after the war, stressing the need for “real recovery” measures.
Earlier Saturday, Zelenskyy announced a major new round of Ukrainian sanctions targeting nearly 700 Russian maritime vessels. He said the measures focus on a large segment of the fleet that transports oil and energy resources, a crucial revenue source for Moscow’s war effort, and described the package as Ukraine’s most extensive sanctions action yet against tankers and other vessels linked to the aggression.
Zelenskyy called for international support to back diplomatic efforts and security guarantees, while Ukraine continues emergency repair work and humanitarian assistance to the regions affected by the power and infrastructure strikes.
