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Russia is preparing for trilateral talks by launching ballistic missiles at Ukraine’s critical infrastructure. Repair and rescue operations are underway in the affected regions wherever the security situation allows. In total, the Russians used 172 drones and 36 ballistic missiles, with all the missiles aimed at Kyiv and the surrounding region. Energy infrastructure was once again the main target. The capital is facing serious difficulties with its electricity, water, and heat supplies. Residential buildings and the Northern Bridge were damaged. A kindergarten was partially destroyed. In the Kyiv region, a substation connecting the Rivne and Khmelnytskyi Nuclear Power Plants to Kyiv and Ukraine’s central regions was hit. Substations were also damaged in the Vinnytsia, Zhytomyr, Rivne, Kharkiv, and Dnipro regions. In addition to Kyiv, twelve other regions came under attack. Nine people were injured, including one child. I thank all our people who defend the country against this terror every day, work to restore what has been damaged, and do everything they can to get Ukraine through the winter. But when Russia is trying to plunge Kyiv – a city of millions – and the entire country into a blackout, Ukraine must not be left alone. We are counting on increased bilateral support from the United States. We are counting on the U.S. Congress to give more attention to Ukraine, because Russia keeps increasing the number of its attacks. It is important that support for Ukraine remains among the priorities of U.S. policy. We are counting on both parties to stand united on matters of security, support for Ukraine, condemnation of Russian aggression, and increased sanctions pressure on Putin. America’s resolve and consistency in supporting Ukraine are crucial in bringing peace closer.

The idea of discussing European-Russian security infrastructure is not simple, and it can be dangerous. I was very clear with all our partners: I think that first we have to discuss how to end Russia’s war against Ukraine. Secondly, what the security infrastructure will look like for Ukraine. What security guarantees will Ukraine have? And then, depending on these answers, the sides can discuss the security infrastructure between Europe – or between the EU – and Russia. It’s dangerous when Russia wants to begin these discussions with a new security infrastructure in Europe. By the by, it's even more dangerous for the EU. We are not a member of the EU. We are not a member of NATO either. I am not trying to speak on their behalf. We all live in Europe. We don't want to have “Yalta 2.0.” We don't want to be divided by Russia. From an interview with Jake Tapper on CNN. (1/3)

We fight for freedom and die for freedom. Words are important. Words from the United States – the biggest supporter of freedom – are important. Support is important. If the words against Putin and his aggression are strong, if a support package for Ukraine is strong, Putin will think twice, three times, ten times about whether he wants to attack or maybe this war has been enough for him. I always tried to make this point to the American President, with all due gratitude to him and his team: Putin respects only a strong position. Even from the enemy, but a strong position. We cannot end this war saying good things about him. We see it – the war is in its fifth year now. From an interview with Jake Tapper on CNN. (2/3)

When we have meetings at the level of the negotiating teams – trilateral, bilateral, doesn’t matter – different sides say that we need time to prepare a ceasefire. They say monitoring is difficult, we need to pull back the weapons, and Ukraine has to make a buffer zone. The ceasefire in Oleshky showed – no. We don’t have to. Warfare is different technologically now. One can monitor by drones. You will have evidence of violations, actual videos. I always said that it all comes down to Putin's political will. As we saw, the decision on the Oleshky ceasefire was made expeditiously. And it worked. I hope that we will find a way to push Putin to peace. We can do it with U.S. mediation. From an interview with Jake Tapper on CNN. (3/3)