Zelenskiy warns Russia of painful winter if energy truce talks fail

President Volodymyr Zelenskiy warned Moscow at the United Nations on Wednesday that Ukraine would strike back and make the coming winter deeply painful for Russia if the two sides cannot agree a truce on energy attacks before the cold sets in. Ukraine and its allies are racing to secure limited agreements on energy infrastructure and Black Sea shipping before winter, fearing renewed Russian strikes on power and heating facilities, while Moscow shows little interest in wider negotiations. Zelenskiy told the UN General Assembly that de-escalation steps are needed, and he called for more robust diplomacy, noting Chinese President Xi Jinping's potential influence on Vladimir Putin. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov met with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who said both sides voiced interest in a limited ceasefire on grain and energy targets, but no movement in Russia's position was evident. Zelenskiy also said Kyiv was ready for a maritime truce in the Black Sea, while global wheat prices have soared due to supply difficulties.