Russia’s war on Ukraine ‘must be brought to an end’, Zelenskyy says

Zelenskyy said Russia’s war on Ukraine “must be brought to an end.” He also said Ukraine is preparing for the “next steps” of diplomacy. His message shows that Kyiv is pursuing negotiations even while Russian and Ukrainian attacks continue. It also places diplomacy alongside the ongoing military conflict.

Zelenskyy said his team is focusing on the results of talks in Florida and on what should happen next. He described communication with US counterparts as “virtually nonstop.” He also spoke with US presidential envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. The article does not specify a detailed timetable or a complete peace plan.

The immediate next step is continued contact between Kyiv and Washington. Zelenskyy said many issues matter to everyone involved, while noting that much depends on the US position. At the same time, long-range attacks continue, showing that diplomatic preparations are happening during active warfare, not after fighting has stopped.

Zelenskyy said the US position matters because “a lot depends” on it. He did not list every reason, but the article shows Washington affecting diplomacy, intelligence sharing, sanctions, and military technology. That gives the United States an important place in discussions about Ukraine’s future steps and the war’s possible end.

Zelenskyy said he spoke with Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, identifying them as the American president’s envoys. The article does not give them separate portfolios or formal negotiating powers. It does show that they are direct channels in the talks. Zelenskyy said communication between Kyiv and Washington remains “virtually nonstop.”

Their discussions focus partly on the results of talks in Florida and on further steps. This contact continues despite a dispute with President Donald Trump over sanctions and Ukrainian strikes. The continuing dialogue suggests that political communication has not stopped, even as military attacks and disagreements complicate the relationship.

The latest attacks reached important sites on both sides. In St Petersburg, Ukraine targeted a key oil refinery and depot, an Ozon warehouse, and a VKontakte data centre. Russian state media called it the city’s largest attack since the war began in 2022. The reported scale shows that long-range strikes are affecting military, energy, commercial, and digital infrastructure.

Russian strikes reportedly killed two people in Ukraine’s Volyn region and injured at least five others across the country. Overnight attacks also killed a woman and injured a six-year-old in Zaporizhzhia. In Russia, the St Petersburg attack killed at least one person. The article reports no injury figure for that attack.

These figures are reported separately and may not form a single confirmed national total. They show the human cost alongside the infrastructure damage. The attacks also demonstrate that both countries continue using long-range weapons while diplomatic contacts remain active. The article says the strikes are continuing, rather than describing a pause during negotiations.

Starshield is described as a military-grade version of Elon Musk’s Starlink satellite connectivity network. SpaceX provides the system to Ukraine. It matters because battlefield connectivity helps Ukrainian forces link receivers and respond to threats. The article focuses on access and speed, rather than explaining every technical feature of the system.

Ukraine reported that its relays were limited in how fast receivers could travel while maintaining a connection. That restriction can make it nearly impossible to intercept Russia’s upgraded, jet-powered long-range drones. The key mechanism is the link between movement and connectivity: if a receiver must slow down to stay connected, it may be less able to track or counter a fast-moving threat.

The system’s status was unsettled. Musk said any restrictions were the US government’s responsibility, while the White House rejected that claim. Marco Rubio said Ukraine was blocked from Starshield and that Kyiv’s request to use it for attacks deep inside Russia was under discussion.

A pause in US intelligence sharing reduced Ukraine’s warning about Russian ballistic-missile attacks. Zelenskyy said only the United States has the unique intelligence needed to tell Ukraine when Russia uses ballistic missiles. That information can give Ukrainian authorities and forces more time to respond, protect people, or move assets.

Zelenskyy said intelligence sharing was blocked for a period and then restored by the American side. He added that Ukraine did not receive the information during ballistic attacks over three days. The example shows the practical mechanism: without the warning, Ukraine has less advance notice of incoming missiles and fewer opportunities to prepare defenses.

Zelenskyy said he was thankful that sharing resumed. The article does not provide a measured number for lost interceptions or casualties caused by the pause. It does show that access to US intelligence is a major part of Ukraine’s defensive capacity, and that changes in US support can quickly affect battlefield vulnerability.

In an active war, energy facilities and other infrastructure can support military operations as well as everyday civilian life. Striking them can disrupt fuel supplies, power, communications, transport, logistics, or industrial activity. The article does not state each attacker’s specific intention, but the targets show why infrastructure has strategic value beyond the battlefield.

Ukraine’s St Petersburg attack targeted an oil refinery and depot, alongside an Ozon warehouse and a VKontakte data centre. Russia’s attacks in Ukraine caused deaths and injuries, including in Volyn and Zaporizhzhia. These examples show two linked effects: infrastructure can be damaged, while people living near or relying on it face direct danger.

Such attacks can put pressure on an opponent’s military capacity and public resilience. They can also spread fear and force resources toward repair, protection, and emergency response. The article gives no confirmed assessment of the operational damage from these strikes. It does show that attacks continue alongside diplomacy, complicating efforts to end the war.

Diplomacy during an active war does not require fighting to stop first. Governments can communicate, exchange proposals, and plan follow-up talks while attacks continue. In this case, Zelenskyy said Ukraine is preparing diplomatic next steps, even as Russia and Ukraine launch long-range strikes. The goal he described is to bring the war to an end.

Military pressure affects negotiations by changing risks and leverage. Technology and intelligence also matter. Ukraine’s access to US intelligence can improve warnings about ballistic missiles, while Starshield connectivity affects its ability to respond to drones. US decisions on sanctions and military support therefore influence the conditions surrounding diplomacy. Washington’s position is especially important, according to Zelenskyy.

The article shows no completed agreement or fixed settlement. Instead, Kyiv and Washington remain in “virtually nonstop communication,” with attention on Florida talks and further steps. The continuing attacks may harden positions, while outside support and battlefield capability may shape future bargaining. Diplomacy is proceeding, but it remains closely tied to military developments.