Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced that a proposed energy ceasefire with Russia has not materialized due to ongoing Russian attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure. While speaking at a joint press conference with Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten in The Hague on October 28, Zelensky expressed disappointment that Russia did not reciprocate the ceasefire initiative, which was backed by the United States.
Despite the setbacks in energy ceasefire talks, Zelensky welcomed the progress made under a U.S.-mediated humanitarian truce in the Russian-occupied region of Oleshky in southern Kherson. The truce, which took effect on October 27, is aimed at facilitating humanitarian operations, including the evacuation of civilians from the occupied area. Zelensky thanked the United States for its role in brokering the truce and emphasized the importance of providing relief to civilians and supporting evacuation efforts.
Looking ahead, Zelensky revealed plans for another round of trilateral peace negotiations involving Ukraine, the United States, and Russia, expected to occur in Abu Dhabi between November 6 and 10. These discussions are set to address a range of issues, including ceasefire arrangements, energy infrastructure, maritime security, prisoner exchanges, and the return of Ukrainian children. Zelensky noted the potential for technical-level meetings to lay the groundwork for future negotiations between national leaders, although no direct meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin has been scheduled.
Zelensky also highlighted the necessity of involving European countries in discussions related to Ukraine’s security guarantees and the broader security arrangements in Europe. He emphasized that Ukraine remains committed to pursuing peace talks even if European representatives are not initially included in the discussions.
During Zelensky’s visit, the Netherlands announced a substantial package of support for Ukraine, including €500 million in military assistance and €1.2 billion in non-military support over three years. Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten stated that his government is collaborating with international partners to secure additional air-defense interceptors for Ukraine, aiming to bolster the country’s defenses ahead of another winter of potential Russian attacks.