The agreement, which is valid until tomorrow, the Kremlin explains, should create favorable conditions for peace negotiations. Meteorologists predict that the temperature in Kyiv will drop to -30°C.
Julija always has a large battery on hand when the power goes out. Like many Ukrainians, she has been without central heating since Russia severely damaged Ukraine’s power grid with a series of targeted attacks. She heats the bricks on the gas to at least warm the room a little and, she says, never takes off her coat.
– It’s really scary. If it’s minus 30, all the pipes will burst and we won’t be able to fix them. It will be a disaster. Putin wants to break us, said Yulia, Dnipro.
After four winters of targeted attacks, Ukraine’s power grid – especially the heating system – is increasingly difficult to maintain. They are working around the clock to restore power, thaw and repair pipes.
This morning’s major technical failure caused a cascading power outage in several regions. Transmission lines connecting the Romanian and Moldovan energy systems and western and central Ukraine were disconnected, reports HRT.
– The subway is not in operation, neither are trolleybuses, trams, buses. There is no water, electricity and heating, said Zhana, Kiev.
When asked how she manages in such conditions, she said that she gets dressed and waits.
– We are waiting for better days. Spring is coming soon, Žana said.
About 450 large apartment blocks in Kyiv remained without electricity. Those who are freezing can be warmed for a short time in special tents. Charge mobile phones, flashlights, eat a hot meal.
– The situation is really terrible. It is impossible to imagine that such a thing can happen in the 21st century, pointed out Tatiana Sidorova, Kyiv.
Ukraine is ready for any format of the meeting, but not in Moscow or Belarus, which is what the Kremlin is calling for, says Zelensky. But he is ready to host the Russian president in Kiev.
– We are open to a meeting with Russia and the USA. We would like Europe to be present at some stage of the negotiations because part of our security guarantees is membership in the European Union, as well as the Coalition of the Willing. But first the three parties must meet. We must have contact with the Russian Federation, with the Russian leader. Without this, our teams will not be able to reach an agreement on territorial issues, stressed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Zelensky warns that before any peace agreement with Russia, a security agreement between the US and Ukraine, ratified by the US Congress, must be signed.
It is still uncertain whether a new round of negotiations between the USA, Russia and Ukraine will be held in Abu Dhabi tomorrow due to the tension between the USA and Iran.
(Vijesti.ba)
