Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Friday that Ukraine “has never been and will never be a roadblock to peace,” arguing that ongoing Russian attacks are undermining diplomacy and eroding faith in negotiations.
“Ukraine has never been and will never be a roadblock to peace, and it is now up to our partners to determine whether diplomacy moves forward,” Zelensky said in his nightly address.
His remarks came after a wave of Russian drone and missile strikes overnight that hit energy infrastructure and residential areas across multiple regions, worsening an already strained electricity and heating situation as winter conditions persist.
Zelensky said the situation in the energy sector was “extremely difficult” following Russian “Shahed” drone attacks in the Kyiv region, including Bucha, Hostomel, and Irpin, as well as in Odesa and Kharkiv. In Kharkiv alone, more than 400,000 people were left facing electricity disruptions, he said.
“All repair crews and all necessary forces – everything is deployed,” Zelensky said, thanking emergency workers and utility crews for restoration efforts. He added that political and legal decisions to increase electricity imports had already been approved and must now be implemented “without delay” by both state-owned and private companies.
Zelensky said additional assistance points had been deployed in Kyiv, including provisions for hot meals, while government ministries were instructed to verify heating conditions in residential buildings, noting that a significant number of homes in the capital remained without heat.
He also said he had spoken with Defense Minister Rustem Umerov about air defense operations and the assessment of each Russian strike. “Everything the enemy does must be analyzed down to every detail,” Zelensky said, adding that Ukraine’s defensive measures would be strengthened and that personnel decisions would follow.
Zelensky announced that he had signed new sanctions targeting individuals who justify Russia’s invasion and are used in Kremlin propaganda, with additional sanctions decisions expected soon. He said pressure on Moscow must be sustained and coordinated with international partners.
“Even now, a significant share of partners’ personal sanctions is based on Ukraine’s proposals,” he said.
Zelensky also said a Ukrainian delegation had arrived in the United States, including Defense Minister Umerov, military intelligence chief Kyrylo Budanov, and senior lawmaker Davyd Arakhamiia. The delegation’s task, he said, is to present U.S. officials with a “full and accurate picture” of the impact of Russian strikes.
“Among the consequences of this terror is the discrediting of the diplomatic process,” Zelensky said, adding that Russian attacks “constantly undermine even the limited opportunities for dialogue that existed before.”
He concluded by thanking Ukraine’s partners and supporters, saying continued international backing would determine whether diplomacy could still succeed.
“Glory to Ukraine,” Zelensky said.
