Zelensky warns Russia of painful winter if energy truce talks fail

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky 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 on a truce on energy 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. Zelensky called for de-escalation steps and noted Chinese President Xi Jinping's potential influence on Russian President Vladimir Putin. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov indicated Moscow would not accept any temporary cessation of hostilities, saying Europe wants a pause to rearm Ukraine. Zelensky derisively described Putin as "patient zero" of the war, while Kyiv expressed readiness for a maritime truce in the Black Sea based on proposals from Egypt, India and Turkey.