Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced that a proposed energy ceasefire with Russia has failed, as Moscow continues its attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure. Speaking in The Hague on October 28, alongside Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten, Zelensky said Ukraine supported a proposal by US President Donald Trump to halt attacks on energy facilities, but Russia did not reciprocate. He emphasized that Ukraine would continue to respond to Russian attacks on its energy resources.
Despite the setback on energy ceasefire, Zelensky expressed optimism about a separate US-mediated humanitarian truce in the Russian-occupied area of Oleshky, located in the southern Kherson region. The truce, which took effect on October 27, aims to facilitate humanitarian operations, including the evacuation of civilians. Zelensky thanked the United States for its role in establishing the truce and expressed hope it could lead to safe evacuations and provide some relief to affected civilians.
Zelensky also mentioned that Ukraine is preparing for another round of trilateral peace talks involving Ukraine, the United States, and Russia, expected to occur in Abu Dhabi between November 6 and 10. These discussions are set to cover various issues such as ceasefire arrangements, energy infrastructure, maritime security, prisoner exchanges, and the return of Ukrainian children. While technical-level meetings are underway to prepare ground for these negotiations, no direct meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin has been agreed upon yet.
Furthermore, Zelensky stressed the importance of involving European countries in discussions related to Ukraine’s security guarantees and broader European security arrangements. Despite the exclusion of European representatives from the initial meetings, he reaffirmed Ukraine’s commitment to pursuing peace talks.
During Zelensky’s visit, the Netherlands announced substantial support for Ukraine, committing €500 million in military assistance and €1.2 billion in non-military support over three years. Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten noted that his government is collaborating with international partners to secure additional air-defense interceptors for Ukraine, aiming to strengthen the country’s defenses as it prepares for another winter amid ongoing Russian attacks.