Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy vowed to strike back against Russia this winter if the two sides fail to agree on an energy-attack truce.
Speaking Wednesday at the UN General Assembly in New York, he said, “Ukrainians understand that this winter could be very harsh for us. But in response, we will have no choice but to make it painful for Russia too.”
The statement comes as Ukraine and the U.S. are pushing for limited agreements covering energy infrastructure and Black Sea shipping ahead of winter. At the same time, Moscow appears to have little interest in broader negotiations to end the war.
Diplomatic Deadlock Threatens Fragile De-escalation Push
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov met U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio Wednesday, with Rubio noting both sides expressed interest in a limited ceasefire covering grain and energy targets. However, Russia’s Foreign Ministry reaffirmed its “unconditional commitment” to its military objectives, signaling no shift in position.
Lavrov also rejected any temporary pause in hostilities, accusing Europe of using a truce to rearm Kyiv.
Black Sea Shipping Risk
In his address, Zelenskyy also said Ukraine remains prepared to accept a maritime truce in the Black Sea, provided Russia responds in kind, in order to safeguard shipping routes and food security. Meanwhile, major wheat importers across Asia, the Middle East and Africa continue to face difficulty securing supplies from the region, driving global wheat prices sharply higher.
The Black Sea region’s outsized role in global grain supply means continued instability there is likely to keep upward pressure on wheat prices.
Separately, Chinese President Xi Jinping was set to meet President Donald Trump at the White House Thursday, a meeting Zelenskyy suggested could influence Russian President Vladimir Putin‘s calculus.
In the meeting with Trump, Zelenskyy urged him to arrange trilateral talks with Putin, saying Kyiv is ready “anytime,” though the Kremlin has dismissed such a summit as premature and a “waste of time.”
Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
Photo courtesy: Shutterstock
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