Zelensky Expects War to Continue Into Winter as Peace Talks Stall

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has warned that the war with Russia is likely to continue into the winter, signalling growing pessimism over the prospects of an immediate ceasefire despite renewed diplomatic efforts involving the United States.

The assessment came after Zelensky held talks in Kyiv with U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, who travelled to Ukraine following separate meetings with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow. While all sides described the discussions as substantive, officials acknowledged that no concrete breakthrough had been achieved.

Speaking after the meeting, Zelensky said Ukraine must prepare for the likelihood that fighting will continue through the cold season. He stressed that Kyiv’s immediate priorities include strengthening air defences, protecting the country’s energy infrastructure and securing a comprehensive “winter package” of military and humanitarian support from its international partners.

The warning comes as Russia intensifies aerial attacks across Ukraine. Ukrainian officials say missile and drone strikes have increasingly targeted civilian infrastructure, electricity networks and urban centres in what they describe as a renewed campaign to weaken the country ahead of winter. Moscow has maintained that its military operations are directed at strategic targets and has repeatedly rejected accusations of deliberately attacking civilians.

Despite the lack of immediate progress, both Kyiv and Washington indicated that diplomatic engagement will continue. Witkoff said the latest discussions had produced new ideas worth exploring, while Zelensky confirmed that Ukraine, the United States and European partners expect further negotiations in the coming days aimed at achieving what he called a “durable and just peace.”

The conflict, now in its fifth year, has evolved into a grinding war of attrition marked by long-range drone warfare, attacks on energy facilities and mounting pressure on both countries’ economies. Ukraine continues to rely heavily on Western military assistance, particularly Patriot air defence systems, while Russia has sustained its campaign through expanded drone and missile production.

For millions of Ukrainians, the prospect of another winter at war carries profound humanitarian consequences. Beyond the battlefield, the struggle is increasingly about keeping homes heated, electricity flowing and cities functioning under relentless aerial attacks, making the coming months as critical for civilian resilience as they are for military strategy.