INTERNATIONAL — February 17, 2026

Zelensky Warns Russia Preparing New Attacks on Ukraine's Energy Infrastructure, Complicating Peace Efforts

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky warned of impending Russian attacks on energy infrastructure amid third-round peace talks in Geneva focusing on occupied regions. Rustem Umerov said the Ukrainian team is ready for substantive discussions on security and humanitarian matters.

The Ehtebar Desk — originates with Hasht-e Subh2 min read

Zelensky Warns Russia Preparing New Attacks on Ukraine's Energy Infrastructure, Complicating Peace Efforts
Image courtesy Hasht-e Subh

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky warned that Russia is preparing extensive new attacks on Ukraine's energy infrastructure, which he said would make reaching a peace agreement more difficult.

In a nightly video message on Monday, February 16, Zelensky stated that Russian attacks are constantly evolving, employing a combination of drones and missiles. He emphasized that Ukraine requires specialized defenses and support from international partners, particularly the United States, to counter these threats.

The warning comes as Ukrainian, Russian, and American delegations convened in Geneva for the third round of peace talks. This round marks the first time the discussions focus on the fate of Ukrainian regions occupied by Russia.

Rustem Umerov, head of the Ukrainian delegation, announced in Geneva that his team is prepared for constructive work and substantive sessions on security and humanitarian issues.

Previous two rounds of talks, held under U.S. support in the United Arab Emirates, resulted only in prisoner exchanges, with no significant progress toward resolving the war.

Read the original reporting at Hasht-e Subh

Reliability assessment

Single source with direct attribution to President Zelensky via his video message and named official Rustem Umerov; includes concrete details like date, location (Geneva), and specifics of prior talks.

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InternationalZelensky, Ukraine, Russia, Geneva peace talks, Rustem Umerov

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