The UN Security Council is today once more discussing the situation in Ukraine.

In the last few minutes, the US charge d’affaires read out a statement at the meeting, outlining the US position.

Washington was engaging in “tireless shuttle diplomacy to try and bridge the divide between Moscow and Kyiv”, she said.

“Both sides will need to make difficult choices to end the war,” she stressed.

“The United States will follow President Trump’s leadership towards peace and deploy all available tools to reach a ceasefire and a final negotiated peace agreement. I call on Moscow and Kyiv to likewise follow President Trump’s lead and stop the senseless loss of life.”

Up to 50% of Kyiv without power after Russian strikes, energy ministry says

Earlier, we reported that emergency power cuts had been introduced in most regions of Ukraine after recent Russian attacks on it energy sector (see 14.10 post).

Now, Ukraine’s energy ministry has said roughly half of the capital’s residents are experiencing power cuts.

“The situation in Kyiv remains one of the most difficult – currently, up to 50% of the capital’s consumers are without electricity at the same time. Hourly outage schedules are in effect,” the ministry said on the Telegram messenger. 

It said the emergency outages are a “forced, but controlled preventive measure” that help to avoid a city-wide blackout.

Energy workers are doing “everything possible” to restore electricity as soon as possible, the ministry added.

‘No serious prospect’ for diplomacy in Ukraine, says Moscow

Russia’s ambassador to the UN has read out a lengthy statement on the Ukraine war at the Security Council meeting in New York.

Vassili Nebenzia once more poured cold water over ongoing US-led efforts to achieve a ceasefire under terms acceptable to both sides.

He said:

“I think today no one has any doubts about that Russia will achieve the objectives of its special military operation… the only question is will we do this militarily or diplomatically?

“We reiterate that we prefer the latter course. Yet due to the actions seeking to undermine on the part of European hawks, we do not see any serious prospects of this.”