Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky addressed the Warsaw Security Forum by video link on Monday, Oct. 12. Closing his speech, he spoke directly to the Polish audience: “Ukraine and Poland are natural allies, and when we stand together, Russia has no chance.”
Zelensky devoted most of his speech to the “energy truce” announced by U.S. President Donald Trump. He said Kyiv had learned about it from the media. Ukraine supports the idea itself, but now Russia must show that it agrees to it as well, he said.
“Immediately after the publication, Russia carried out a targeted strike on a power plant in Kharkiv, causing further damage to our energy system. Obviously, Putin does not read Truth Social,” he said. On the evening of Oct. 11, Russian forces attacked Combined Heat and Power Plant No. 5 in Kharkiv, and a missile strike on the village of Pisochyn near Kharkiv killed three people. Zelensky promised a response if Russia violates the energy truce this winter.
Elections, guarantees and grain
Asked about elections, the president said Russia attacks Ukraine day and night — and, under its new tactics, every hour — making it impossible to organize a safe vote. Even under a truce, holding elections would contradict current legislation. However, if the United States reaches an agreement with Russia on a full ceasefire, Ukraine is ready to consider the issue. Zelensky said Kyiv is ready to sign ceasefire guarantees and is awaiting details of the negotiations between the American and Russian sides.
The president also warned of a looming food crisis. “Everyone is talking about diesel, but no one is talking about grain,” he said, adding that the world could face a crisis in two to three months. Zelensky expressed hope that Ukraine would open four negotiating clusters with the European Union by the end of the year and urged that there be no pauses in European integration.
