Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Wednesday that Kyiv and Washington are working to force the war with Russia to finish before winter sets in.
"We must end the war before winter," Zelenskyy told reporters after a "positive and productive" meeting with former US President Donald Trump in New York on Tuesday.
"We must end the war before winter," Zelenskyy said.
The president added that the United States is the main partner in the diplomatic push, and that a rapid resolution would spare civilians from the harsh cold that historically deepens humanitarian crises.
Energy truce offered as a lever
Al Jazeera reported that Kyiv is prepared to halt its own strikes on Russian energy facilities if Moscow agrees to stop targeting Ukraine's power grid.
Such an exchange would mark the first formal energy‑related concession by either side since the conflict began in February 2022, when both countries launched attacks on each other's electricity networks.
Officials in Kyiv say the proposal is intended to create a humanitarian corridor for winter supplies and to reduce civilian casualties caused by power outages.
Why winter matters
Winter has repeatedly altered the dynamics of the war. In 2022, freezing temperatures slowed Russian advances and forced both armies to adjust logistics, while in 2023 severe cold contributed to a humanitarian disaster in the Donbas region.
Energy supplies are especially vulnerable; Ukraine's grid already operates on limited capacity after months of Russian missile strikes, and the prospect of a prolonged blackout threatens hospitals, schools and heating for millions.
Washington's role and expectations
The United States, which supplies Ukraine with billions of dollars in military aid, has signalled that a swift end to hostilities aligns with its broader security interests in Europe.
State Department officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the Biden administration is prepared to deepen diplomatic pressure on Moscow, including new sanctions, if a pre‑winter ceasefire does not materialise.
American lawmakers have also voiced concern that a drawn‑out conflict could strain US defence budgets and divert attention from other strategic priorities in the Indo‑Pacific.
Potential pathways and obstacles
Negotiators will need to bridge a widening gap between Kyiv's demand for full Russian withdrawal from occupied territories and Moscow's insistence on security guarantees.
Russia has not publicly responded to the energy‑truce proposal, but Kremlin spokespeople have previously dismissed Western‑led peace initiatives as "premature".
Any agreement will likely require third‑party mediation, with the United Nations and possibly the European Union positioned to facilitate talks.
What comes next
Diplomatic channels are expected to remain active throughout the week, with a senior US delegation slated to visit Kyiv later this month.
Zelenskyy warned that if winter arrives without a ceasefire, the human cost could be "catastrophic", underscoring the urgency of the current push.
International observers will be watching closely to see whether the energy truce becomes a stepping stone toward a broader settlement before the first snowfalls.
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