The United States is pushing for a three-way technical meeting between Ukraine and Russia by the end of October, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced on Sunday during a press conference with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, according to Polsat News.
Washington has been in contact with both sides and is proposing to organise a technical-level gathering in some format before the month closes, the Ukrainian leader said. He confirmed that on Saturday he spoke with the American negotiating team and told them Ukraine is ready to support such a meeting before the October deadline.
“There is nothing new in this. We are open to the United Arab Emirates or any other location proposed by the American side,” Zelensky stated, adding that Ukraine is responding positively and awaiting Russia’s reaction.
Only a day earlier, Zelensky told Reuters that the US had not yet proposed a specific venue or date for the meeting. Negotiations between the warring parties have been suspended since February 2026. Moscow’s demands include Kyiv surrendering the remaining Ukrainian-controlled portion of Donbas – Ukraine still holds around 25 per cent of Donetsk region – and abandoning its NATO membership aspirations.
Kremlin threatens escalation over refinery strikes
Russia’s defence ministry warned on Sunday that its forces will intensify attacks on Kyiv and other Ukrainian regions after Zelensky declared his country would step up drone strikes on Russian oil refineries, Reuters reported.
The threat came just one day after the Ukrainian president told Reuters that Kyiv would increase attacks on enemy refineries in response to a shift in Russia’s war doctrine. In an interview with the Financial Times on Friday, Zelensky said President Vladimir Putin ordered the military in September to move away from traditional warfare doctrine, resulting in more strikes on civilian targets including schools and hospitals. He cited Ukrainian intelligence data, including intercepted conversations between Russian officials.
Russia has repeatedly struck key bridges in the Ukrainian capital in recent days. The North Bridge was hit again on Sunday, while on Saturday Russian forces targeted the South Bridge for the second consecutive day – the second-largest crossing in Kyiv. Many of the city’s three million residents commute from the left bank of the Dnipro River to the right, where most government offices, businesses and state institutions are located.
Fuel crisis deepens in Russia
Ukrainian drone attacks on Russian refineries have escalated, leading to a fuel crisis in Russia during the spring and summer months. In mid-September, the International Energy Agency (IEA) reported that Russian oil refining in June 2026 fell to its lowest level in more than two decades. Petrol production dropped 20 per cent compared to the same month the previous year.
The IEA estimates that Russia’s energy sector produced 30 per cent less diesel fuel in June than in the corresponding month of the prior year. In July, the Moscow government imposed an export ban on diesel for fuel producers, which was extended until the end of the month on Thursday. Before these restrictions, Russia ranked as the world’s second-largest diesel exporter after the United States.
What this means for Poles in the UK
While any potential talks remain uncertain and technical in nature, a diplomatic breakthrough could eventually affect Poles in Britain who maintain close family and business ties with Ukraine. Many in the Polish community have supported Ukrainian refugees who arrived in the UK after the 2022 invasion, and any progress toward ending the conflict would have implications for those planning to return home or reunite with relatives.
For now, the escalating military threats from both sides suggest the path to meaningful negotiations remains fraught. Poles sending humanitarian aid or financial support to Ukraine should continue to monitor official Foreign Office travel advice and remain cautious about any sudden shifts in the security situation. Those with family in western Ukraine or planning visits should stay informed through official channels as the diplomatic landscape evolves in the coming weeks.
