Zelenskyy gave the refusal during a speech that was broadcast at the International Security Forum in Halifax, Canada. “A (…) real, lasting and honest peace can only come about through the complete destruction of Russian aggression,” said Zelenskyj.
US Chief of Staff Mark Milley has previously repeatedly said that the ongoing Ukrainian recaptures could potentially be an opportunity to start negotiations for a political settlement to the conflict. However, the White House had also emphasized that only the Ukrainian head of state could decide whether to start negotiations, thereby rejecting the suspicion that the US was putting pressure on Kyiv in this regard.
No offer of talks
According to Ukrainian information, however, there has not yet been an official offer for peace negotiations. “We have no official request from the Russian side,” Ukrainian presidential adviser Andriy Yermak said on Saturday. Before negotiations could begin, Moscow would have to “withdraw all Russian troops from Ukrainian territory,” he added.
Since the start of its counter-offensive in late August, the Ukrainian army has been able to retake some areas from Russia, including the strategically important regional capital of Kherson in the south. Fighting continued in the eastern Ukrainian region of Donetsk. About 100 Russian attacks had been fended off in the Donetsk region the day before, Zelenskyy said in his nightly video message. There is “neither relaxation nor breathing space”. The Ukrainian troops would be supported by border guard units from Kharkiv and Sumy. A National Guard brigade is fighting in Bakhmut. “We will not give in to the enemy in any of the front areas,” Zelenskyy said.
Ukraine: Millions without electricity
The Russian airstrikes have cut power to millions of Ukrainians. Recently, the Russian armed forces had repeatedly attacked Ukraine’s energy infrastructure.
Millions without electricity
Russia recently repeatedly attacked Ukraine’s energy infrastructure. On Friday, Kyiv said that “almost half” of the Ukrainian energy system was “unable to work”. Millions of Ukrainians were still without electricity. At the same time, the first snow fell in the capital Kyiv. Temperatures of minus ten degrees Celsius were expected for the coming days.
According to Zelensky, restoring the power supply in the country is a top priority. “We are working across the country to stabilize the situation,” he said in his daily video address on Saturday evening. “Most problems with electricity are in Kyiv and the surrounding area, Odessa and the surrounding area, Kharkiv and the surrounding area.” However, places like Vinnytsia, Ternopil, Cherkassy, Chernihiv and other regions are also affected. Everything is done “to enable people to lead a normal life”.
Hundreds disappeared in Kherson
After nine months of war, reports of war crimes on both sides are also increasing. On Friday, the US University of Yale published a study according to which hundreds of Ukrainians were arrested during the Russian occupation of Cherson and many of them disappeared. About a quarter of the people were believed to have been tortured, and four of them died in captivity.
According to the Conflict Observatory, a research group supported by the US State Department, the Russian military and the Russian secret service FSB were behind most of the cases.
Russia, meanwhile, accused Ukraine of executing several soldiers previously alleged to have surrendered. The Russian Ministry of Defense spoke in a statement of the “premeditated and methodical murder of more than ten tied up Russian soldiers” who were “shot in the head”. As evidence, Moscow referred to videos circulating on online networks. The Ukrainian army announced on Saturday that it would verify the authenticity of these videos before investigating.
Sunak promises further help
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, meanwhile, arrived in Kyiv for his first visit since taking office. In a meeting with Ukrainian President Zelenskyy, Sunak confirmed the UK’s “permanent support” for Ukraine, Downing Street officials said. London will support Kyiv “until Ukraine wins,” he said.