KYIV/BRATISLAVA – The Ukrainian side will do everything necessary so that the next round of negotiations between Ukraine, the United States and Russia can deliver results for Ukraine and peace, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Saturday.
Ukraine will by no means stand in the way of peace, he said in a video address.
Zelensky announced that his meetings with European partners are scheduled for next week. “We will coordinate in detail so that Europe is involved in all processes and grows only stronger,” Zelensky said.
The delegations from Ukraine, the United States and Russia held the latest round of talks in Geneva, Switzerland, on Feb 17-18, with no breakthrough on key issues.
Ukraine sanctions
Also on Saturday, the Ukrainian president’s official website reported that Zelensky has signed decrees to sanction Russia’s “shadow fleet,” entities and individuals serving Russia’s military industry.
The decrees were signed to enact decisions of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine, said the report.
One of the decisions aims to counter Russia’s “shadow fleet,” involving 225 ship captains related to exporting Russian petroleum products.
Those sanctioned include citizens of Russia, India and the Philippines. Most of the vessels involved have already been placed under sanctions by the European Union, the United States, Britain, Switzerland, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.
Another package of sanctions was imposed on 46 Russian citizens, two Iranian citizens, and 44 Russian companies servicing Russia’s military-industrial complex.
“These include entities that supply, develop, manufacture and repair equipment, electronic warfare systems and spare parts for Russia’s military-industrial complex. Their products are used in the production of ballistic and cruise missiles, attack and reconnaissance drones, small arms and ammunition,” the report said.
The two Iranian citizens were involved in supplying aviation spare parts in circumvention of sanctions, benefiting an Iranian aircraft manufacturing company. The company partners with Russia in the development and production of Shahed drones, and has already been placed under sanctions by Ukraine, the United States, Switzerland and New Zealand.
Slovak PM’s warning
Meanwhile, Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico on Saturday warned of halting emergency electricity supplies to Ukraine if the oil flows through the Druzhba pipeline to are not restored.
“If oil supplies to Slovakia are not restored on Monday, I will ask SEPS to stop emergency electricity supplies to Ukraine. In January 2026 alone, these emergency supplies needed to stabilize the Ukrainian energy grid were twice as high as for the whole of 2025,” he posted on social media. SEPS is the Slovak state transmission system operator.
Fico also accused Zelensky of acting maliciously towards Slovakia because Slovakia does not “support the war.”
He added that the halt of gas flows to Slovakia had caused an annual damage of 500 million euros ($590 million) since Jan 1, 2025, and there was further damage and logistical difficulties since the oil flows halted.
Oil supplies to Slovakia and Hungary were suspended following an attack on the Druzhba pipeline on Jan 27, Ukrainian officials said. Slovakia has declared an oil emergency.
On Feb 18, after a cabinet session, Fico accused Zelensky of political blackmail and interfering in the election campaign in Hungary, the News Agency of the Slovak Republic reported.