Ukraine's state energy operator announced widespread power outages in the Kiev region and other parts of the east after another massive attack on Ukraine's energy infrastructure by Russian missiles and drones, with an estimated 120 missiles and around 90 drones fired.

The massive joint airstrike, one of the largest in the Russian-Ukrainian conflict so far, left scores of people dead and wounded, and appeared to be a response to Ukraine's ongoing attacks on Russian military and naval bases and oil depots.

In his speech, Zelenskiy said Ukrainian air defenses shot down more than 140 incoming Russian projectiles. But fires and damage to buildings across the country suggested dozens of drones and missiles had hit their targets.

Zelensky described: "The enemy's target is our energy infrastructure throughout Ukraine. Unfortunately, the objects that were hit and the falling debris caused damage. In Mikolev, the drone attack killed two people and injured six people, including two children." Two other people were reportedly killed in the attack in the Odessa region.

As for damage from the weekend's new attacks, Ukrainian private energy company DTEK said a thermal power plant it operates was "severely damaged." Russia has been targeting these thermal power facilities since the start of the conflict.

Russia said in a statement that it attacked energy resources used to supply Ukraine's armed forces. "Combat tactical aviation, unmanned combat vehicles, missile units and artillery of the Russian Armed Forces Group caused damage to the infrastructure of military airports, gas production and energy facilities used for the operation of Ukrainian defense enterprises, drone warehouses, as well as enemy troops and military equipment in 144 regions," the Defense Ministry said.

According to further information, the Russian Federation Armed Forces used high-precision strike systems to extensively attack key facilities of the energy infrastructure that ensure the operation of Ukraine's military and industrial complex, as well as enterprises producing military products. The Russian military added that "all targets were hit."

After nearly 1,000 days of resisting Russia, Ukraine's allies are pushing Zelenskiy to consider new ways to draw Putin to the negotiating table to seek an end to the fighting. Trump will return to the White House in January promising a swift end to the war. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz urged Putin to engage in peace talks in a phone call on Friday.

Two European officials said there was a growing recognition that Zelenskiy would have to compromise with Putin as it became clear that neither side could achieve a decisive victory.

The sudden calls for a settlement suggest Ukraine’s allies are trying to get ahead of Trump’s return, which could see a sharp reduction in U.S. support for their country. As North Korean troops join Russia in the fight, hopes are growing to end a conflict that has devastated swaths of Ukraine, consumed hundreds of billions of dollars in financial aid and foreign weapons and upended geopolitical relations in Europe and around the world.

However, despite the heavy casualties suffered by Russian troops, Putin has shown no willingness to consider a ceasefire.

French President Emmanuel Macron said that Russia's massive airstrike on Ukraine last Sunday showed that Russian President Vladimir Putin "does not want peace and is not ready to negotiate," according to foreign media reports. Macron told reporters that France's priority is to "equip, support and help Ukraine to resist." He declined to comment on German Chancellor Scholz's call with Putin last Friday, adding that Ukraine's allies "must remain united on a truly peaceful agenda, that is, peace does not mean Ukraine's surrender."

British Prime Minister Starmer said on Sunday that he had no plans to talk to Putin. He said he would not hold a phone call with Putin as German Chancellor Scholz did. Earlier, the Kremlin said the call between the two leaders was initiated by Germany. This was the first publicly announced dialogue between Putin and the main leaders of Western powers in nearly two years. Ukrainian President Zelensky criticized the event, saying it would only make Russia less isolated. Starmer said that allies must now redouble their support for Ukraine as long as Ukraine needs it. Since the Russian-Ukrainian conflict, Britain has pledged 12.8 billion pounds (about 16.15 billion U.S. dollars) in aid to Ukraine.

Article forwarded from: Jinshi Data