Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has declared that sustained Russian attacks on his country's energy infrastructure demonstrate Vladimir Putin has no genuine interest in ending the nearly four-year war, as high-stakes diplomatic efforts prepare to move to the World Economic Forum in Davos.
Davos to Host Next Phase of US-Ukraine Consultations
Following a weekend of discussions in Florida between Ukrainian negotiators and a US team led by President Donald Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff and son-in-law Jared Kushner, talks will continue in Switzerland this week. Ukraine's lead negotiator, Rustem Umerov, confirmed the parties agreed to continue work "at the team level" during the next phase of consultations in Davos.
Both President Zelensky and former US President Trump are scheduled to attend the summit, which begins today, Monday 19 January 2026. However, the White House has stated there are currently no plans for a bilateral meeting between the two leaders.
Zelensky Condemns Russian Strikes as Barrier to Peace
In his nightly video address, President Zelensky directly linked Russia's ongoing military aggression to a lack of diplomatic intent. "If the Russians were seriously interested in ending the war, they would have focused on diplomacy," he stated, outlining the devastating impact of targeted strikes.
He reported that restoration of Ukraine's energy grid remains "complicated" due to constant Russian attacks, with the situation most severe in Kyiv, Kharkiv, Zaporizhzhia, and surrounding regions. Zelensky has ordered a review in Kyiv to identify buildings still without heating, noting discrepancies in official reports.
Further alarming intelligence suggests Russia is conducting reconnaissance on sites linked to Ukraine's nuclear power stations. Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said on Saturday there was evidence Russia was considering attacks on substations supplying these facilities.
Former Archbishop Labels Putin's 'Holy Mission' a Heresy
In a separate development, the former Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, has accused Vladimir Putin of heresy. This follows the Russian President's claim that his invasion was a "holy mission" and that his soldiers acted "as if at the Lord's behest."
Mr Williams, who served as Archbishop from 2002 to 2012, told The Independent that using religion to justify the invasion was "disturbing" and fundamentally contradicted Christian teaching. "I'd certainly say we're talking about heresy," he said. "We're talking about something which undermines a really fundamental aspect of religious belief... which assumes that we have to defend God by violence."
Military Assessments Point to Escalation, Not De-escalation
Ukraine's top military commander, General Oleksandr Syrskyi, provided a bleak assessment, indicating Russia is focusing on escalation rather than peace. He revealed that Russia currently produces 404 Iranian-designed 'Shahed' drones daily, with plans to significantly boost production to an astonishing 1,000 drones per day.
Despite the challenging backdrop, Ukrainian forces have demonstrated tactical efficacy. An intelligence assessment shared with British officials revealed that during the battle to reclaim the city of Kupiansk in Kharkiv last month, Ukrainian forces achieved a remarkable casualty ratio, with an estimated 27 Russian soldiers lost for every Ukrainian soldier killed.
As the world's political and business elite gather in Davos, the focus for Ukrainian officials will be securing concrete security guarantees and a viable post-war recovery plan, all while their homeland endures nightly assaults on its critical civilian infrastructure.
