Ukraine Doubts Sunday Peace Talks as Iran Crisis Takes Centre Stage
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has raised doubts over whether a planned second round of three way peace talks involving Ukraine, Russia, and the United States will go ahead this weekend.
Ukraine Doubts
Delegations from the three countries met last week in an attempt to narrow differences and move towards a potential ceasefire, with a follow up meeting provisionally scheduled for Sunday in Abu Dhabi.
However, Mr Zelensky suggested the talks could be delayed because of shifting priorities in Washington, particularly rising tensions between the United States and Iran.
“From our point of view, something is happening in the situation between the United States and Iran, and those developments could affect the timing,” he said, adding that the date and location of the next meeting remained uncertain.
“I do not know when the next meeting will be,” the Ukrainian leader said.
Energy ceasefire nearing its end
US President Donald Trump said earlier this week that Russian President Vladimir Putin had agreed to temporarily halt attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure during a period of extreme winter conditions.
Ukraine said it had reciprocated by refraining from strikes on Russia’s energy grid. However, Mr Zelensky accused Moscow of continuing attacks on civilian targets and logistics instead.
“There were no strikes on energy facilities last night, but yesterday afternoon our energy infrastructure in several regions was hit,” he said.
He added that Russia had shifted its focus to transport and supply routes, as well as residential areas. A ballistic missile strike damaged warehouses belonging to a civilian production facility in the Kharkiv region, which he said was owned by an American company.
The Kremlin has said the limited ceasefire on energy targets is due to expire on Sunday.
Russian calls for escalation
In Moscow, hardline lawmakers have urged the Kremlin to intensify the war effort.
The speaker of Russia’s lower house of parliament, Vyacheslav Volodin, said deputies were demanding the use of more powerful weapons.
“Our troops are advancing. State Duma deputies insist on the use of more powerful weapons of retribution,” he wrote on Telegram.
Ukraine boosts drone defences
Mr Zelensky said Kyiv had held a high priority meeting to strengthen short range air defences against drones, particularly in frontline cities such as Kherson and Nikopol, and in border communities in the Sumy region.
“Protection against Russian drones must be reinforced,” he said, accusing Russian forces of carrying out what he described as an ongoing campaign against civilians.
He also announced the creation of a new command structure to oversee counter drone operations, including efforts to scale up defences against Iranian made Shahed drones used by Russia.
Read More: 2026 EU Crackdown: Iran’s IRGC Officially Branded Terrorist Organisation
Allegations of war crimes
Ukraine accused Russian forces of executing surrendering Ukrainian border guards following a cross border attack in Chernihiv region last December.
The Institute for the Study of War said there had been a marked rise in extrajudicial killings of Ukrainian prisoners of war since late 2024, in violation of international law, and that Russian military leadership appeared to be endorsing such actions.
Meanwhile, Russian installed authorities in occupied Kherson region confirmed that nearly 600 children had been transferred to camps in Russia’s Adygea republic during 2025.
Observers and legal experts have classified such forced transfers as war crimes, saying they amount to deportation and indoctrination of Ukrainian children.
Zelensky challenges Putin
Rejecting a Kremlin proposal to hold talks in Moscow, Mr Zelensky said he would instead invite Mr Putin to Kyiv.
“I can invite him to Kyiv. Let him come, if he dares,” he said.
He ruled out negotiations in Russia or Belarus, calling Moscow the aggressor and Minsk its partner, but said Ukraine was open to talks in any country where security could be guaranteed.
“We are serious about ending the war,” he said.
Trump says deal appears close
Mr Trump told reporters in the Oval Office on Friday that he believed a deal to end the war was nearing completion.
“I think we are getting close,” he said, without offering further details.
Rail attacks and diplomatic moves
Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko said Russian forces carried out seven drone attacks on Ukraine’s rail infrastructure in the past 24 hours.
“Russia is deliberately striking logistics routes. This is intentional terror aimed at civilians,” she said in a post on X.
Separately, sources told Reuters that Kirill Dmitriev, a special envoy of President Putin, is expected to travel to Miami on Saturday for meetings with members of the Trump administration.
The visit is likely to be closely watched amid uncertainty over whether the next round of peace talks will proceed as planned.
