Zelenskyy awaits US response after Russia violates Trump's request
Photo: Volodymyr Zelenskyy, President of Ukraine (Getty Images)
Russia has violated a request made personally by US President Donald Trump and launched a massive strike on Ukraine at the height of winter cold. Kyiv is now expecting a response from Washington to this crime, stated Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Read also: Zelenskyy on energy truce: Russia either has four days per week or chooses war
"We expect a response from the United States to Russia’s strikes. This was an initiative from the US itself: to halt attacks on energy infrastructure during diplomacy and amid such cold winter weather. There was a personal request from the US President,” Zelenskyy said.
He noted that Russia responded to that request with a record use of ballistic missiles, adding that fewer than four days had passed out of the week for which Russia had been asked to refrain from attacks.
"This says everything about all the other promises Russia makes or may still make. If they can’t keep their word now, what can be expected next?" Zelenskyy said.
The Ukrainian President stressed that Russia lied ahead of the war in an attempt to deceive the world about its intentions, and continues to do so even in such agreements with the US.
"They are incorrigible in Moscow. They want to exploit the cold because they cannot subdue Ukraine through their assaults. Russia’s bet on war must receive a response from the world," Zelenskyy said.
Energy ceasefire
Last week, Donald Trump said he had asked Russian leader Vladimir Putin to suspend strikes on Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities for a week, adding that Putin had agreed.
At the same time, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russia had agreed to halt attacks only until February 1.
The so-called energy ceasefire began on the night of January 30, but by the night of February 3, Russian forces launched massive strikes on energy facilities in several regions of Ukraine. As a result of the attack, large numbers of Ukrainians were left without heating amid severe frost.
