Zelenskyy says strike violated personal request from US President, Kyiv awaits Washington’s response

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Tuesday said Russia ignored a personal request from the President of the United States to halt strikes on Ukraine’s energy sector, adding that Kyiv now expects a response from Washington following the latest large-scale attack.

Speaking about the recent bombardment, Zelenskyy stated that the appeal to stop targeting energy infrastructure during the diplomatic period and peak winter cold had come directly from the US side.

“We are waiting for the United States’ response to Russia’s strikes. It was America’s proposal to stop attacks on the energy sector during this diplomatic period and during the cold winter weather. This was a personal request from the President of the United States,” Zelenskyy said.

He added that Russia responded to the request with what he described as a record number of ballistic strikes, noting that fewer than four days had passed since the relevant week during which restraint had been sought from Moscow.

“This says a lot about what Russia has promised or could promise in the future. If its word is not kept now, what should we expect next?” Zelenskyy said.

The Ukrainian President stressed that Russia had misled others about its intentions even before the full-scale war and continues to do so, including in arrangements involving the United States.

“They are incorrigible in Moscow. They want to take advantage of the cold, because they cannot conquer Ukraine through their attacks. Russia’s dependence on war must be met with a peaceful response,” he said.