Zelenskyy: Russia Has Damaged Every Power Plant in Ukraine, Seeks Latin American Help

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Thursday urged Latin American leaders, at a meeting on the sidelines of the Ibero-American Community summit in Madrid, to help Ukraine obtain equipment urgently needed to restore energy infrastructure damaged by Russian strikes. The Ibero-American Community is a 22-nation group made up mainly of Spanish- and Portuguese-speaking Latin American countries.

"Every power plant in Ukraine has been damaged in one way or another by attacks," Zelenskyy said, adding that repair crews were working around the clock. He said companies in Spain and Latin America could help, stressing that Ukraine needs equipment compatible with its power grid, and needs it fast.

Trump's remarks

US President Donald Trump predicted a "very big" agreement with Russia that would cover not only the war in Ukraine but possibly "all of Europe". He revealed he had held an unscheduled meeting at the White House with Kirill Dmitriev, an envoy of Russian President Vladimir Putin, who was in Washington for talks with Ukrainian officials. Trump said he had not met the Ukrainian officials. His comments may heighten European concerns that Washington is pivoting towards the Kremlin and will press Ukraine into an unfavourable deal.

Strikes and casualties

Russia and Ukraine exchanged airstrikes overnight. The Ryazan oil refinery in Russia appeared, according to a Reuters video analysis, to have been hit in a large drone attack. In Russian-occupied Luhansk region, Moscow-backed leader Leonid Pasechnik said a Ukrainian attack on a bus killed five people and wounded 13.

In Komyshuvakha, in Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia region, rescuers continue searching for more than 30 people believed trapped in the ruins of a former school and a nearby shelter hit by Russian guided bombs on Monday. Zelenskyy said 43 deaths had been confirmed and that one person previously reported missing had been found alive.

Other developments

Leaked defence industry documents indicate Russia arranged to supply Iran with 90 launchers for LMUR guided missiles, which are fired from attack helicopters and which Russian forces have used extensively against Ukraine. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, in a letter to European Council President António Costa, criticised Europe's "disorderly" approach to Ukraine negotiations and demanded the EU decide who speaks on its behalf. Costa replied that he agreed Europe must act with coherence, unity and determination.