In efforts to end the conflict, which has lasted almost four years, Ukraine has sent a high-level delegation to the United States for negotiations. As the Ukrainian Ambassador to Washington, 'Olha Stefanischyna', announced, the talks are scheduled to take place next Saturday in 'Miami', 'Florida'. The main focus is on the future security architecture and the long-term economic development of Ukraine. The delegation includes, among others, the Secretary of the Security Council, 'Rustem Umjerow', and the Head of the Presidential Office, 'Kyrylo Budanow'. A possible agreement could have a value of up to 690 billion Euros and, if successful, could be signed the following week at the World Economic Forum in Davos.
Parallel to the diplomatic efforts, the Ukrainian side reported military successes against Russia's economic infrastructure. The target of the recent drone attacks was the so-called 'Schattenflotte', a group of tankers that operate under mostly questionable flags to bypass international sanctions. According to reports, the tanker 'Elbus', among others, was heavily damaged in the 'Schwarzen Meer'. These attacks aim to make the export of Russian oil products more difficult and increase the risk for international ship owners. The Ukrainian secret service 'SBU' emphasized the legitimacy of these operations as a reaction to the ongoing Russian aggression.
Meanwhile, the situation at the front remains tense. The Ukrainian 'Generalstab' reported an above-average number of Russian attacks, especially in the east of the country. At the same time, the humanitarian situation in Ukraine is worsening due to targeted Russian air strikes against the energy infrastructure. Energy Minister 'Schmyhal' informed parliament about a critical supply situation; in many parts of the country, including 'Kiew', massive damage to power plants led to widespread power and heating outages in winter temperatures.
