The Ukrainian president also said a large number of people were "officially missing", meaning the total death toll is thought to be much higher.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he expects peace in the war with Russia to be achieved in less than a year, according to the French television channel France 2. Read also: Zelenskyy announces first prisoner swap with Russia in four months.

Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko, also writing after the daily meeting, said 217 Russian attacks on Ukraine's energy system had been recorded since the beginning of the year. She p

The U.S.-led push to end Russia’s nearly 4-year-old war in Ukraine gained momentum late last year and is moving ahead in 2026, with leaders, diplomats and envoys engaged in a flurry of meetings to discuss a potential deal.

Since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion, 55,000 Ukrainian soldiers have been killed, states Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, according to Le Monde. Read also: Russia's losses surpass those of every war since World War II "In Ukraine,

The UK leader's comments came after Russia renewed its attacks on power plants and critical infrastructure in Ukraine.

Little has been made public so far, but negotiators were expected to talk about the fate of Ukrainian territory in the east and security guarantees for Ukraine.

Ukraine's leader says regions including Kyiv and Kharkiv are among those suffering the most from blackouts as a result of recent attacks.