Russia's attacks on Ukraine's energy sector on Monday night - as temperatures dropped to -20C (-4F) - were barbaric and particularly depraved, UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has said.
He made the comments after speaking to US President Donald Trump hours after Russia hit power plants and crucial infrastructure in the capital, Kyiv, and elsewhere.
The attacks came at the end of a week-long pause that Trump had asked Russia's President Vladimir Putin to observe as severe cold swept across Ukraine.
Trump said on Tuesday that Putin had kept his word and expressed hope for an end to the war. Meanwhile, US diplomats are set to meet negotiators from both Russia and Ukraine in Abu Dhabi to discuss potential peace agreements.
When asked by reporters whether he felt let down by Russia's renewed aggression, Trump implied tolerance due to the brief respite provided to Ukrainians, stressing the extreme cold affecting the region.
The damage from the strikes has been extensive, leading to more than 1,000 tower blocks in Kyiv without heating and leaving a power plant in Kharkiv irreparable. Residents were forced to seek shelter in metro stations, with some pitching makeshift tents as temperatures dropped.
Authorities have initiated plans to set up communal heating centres and import additional generators to manage prolonged power outages as repair efforts proceed.
Ukraine has voiced a persistent need for missile supplies, urging allies to expedite additional deliveries. NATO's Secretary-General Mark Rutte visited Kyiv following the attacks, emphasizing the urgency for member nations to bolster Ukraine's missile arsenal.
As the conflict progresses, Putin's recent actions underscore ongoing complexities, including demands for Ukraine to surrender regions in the eastern Donbas area.
This aggressive campaign by Russia, initiated with a full-scale invasion in February 2022, continues to subject Ukraine to significant hardships as winter deepens.
