Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has announced the failure of a proposed energy ceasefire with Russia, citing Moscow’s continued attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure. Despite this setback, Zelensky expressed optimism about a separate humanitarian truce in the Russian-occupied town of Oleshky, facilitated by the United States, which aims to provide relief to civilians and assist in evacuation efforts.
Speaking in The Hague alongside Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten on October 28, Zelensky revealed that Ukraine had supported a proposal by US President Donald Trump to halt strikes on energy facilities, but Russia did not comply. As a result, Ukraine plans to continue defending against Russian assaults on its energy systems.
The humanitarian truce in Oleshky, located in the southern Kherson region, took effect on October 27 and has shown early signs of progress, according to Zelensky. This arrangement is designed to enable humanitarian operations, including civilian evacuations from the area under Russian control. Zelensky conveyed gratitude to Washington for its role in establishing the truce and expressed hope that it would facilitate safe evacuations.
Looking ahead, Zelensky mentioned that Ukraine is preparing for another round of trilateral peace negotiations with the United States and Russia, scheduled to occur in Abu Dhabi between November 6 and 10. These discussions are expected to address ceasefire agreements, the security of energy infrastructure, maritime security, prisoner exchanges, and the return of Ukrainian children.
Zelensky highlighted the importance of technical-level meetings to lay the groundwork for potential talks between national leaders, although no meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin has been arranged. He affirmed Ukraine’s readiness to discuss territorial matters directly with Russian leadership but emphasized that Ukraine must be involved in any agreement concerning its future.
Furthermore, Zelensky stressed the necessity of involving European countries in discussions about Ukraine’s security guarantees and broader European security arrangements. He stated that Ukraine would continue pursuing peace talks even if European representatives are not included in the initial discussions.
During Zelensky’s visit, the Netherlands announced significant support for Ukraine, including €500 million in military aid and €1.2 billion in non-military assistance over three years. Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten also noted efforts to collaborate with international partners to provide additional air-defense interceptors to Ukraine, aiming to bolster defenses as another winter of Russian aggression looms.