U.S. promises more sanctions against Russia with Ukraine peace talks looming

With the fourth anniversary of Russia’s all-out war in Ukraine coming up next week, Ukrainian and Russian delegations are meeting for another round of U.S.- brokered peace talks.

There is no anticipation of a resolution coming from the meetings – set for Tuesday and Wednesday – as both sides are sticking to their negotiating positions.

Ukraine’s leader offered a warm welcome to the U.S. delegations, as another round of U.S.-brokered peace talks loom.

“We look forward to hearing from you about how we can be more helpful,” says U.S. Democratic Senator from Connecticut, Richard Blumenthal.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with two U.S. senators and the American Ambassador in Kyiv Monday while a Ukrainian negotiating team arrives in Geneva for two days of meetings with Russia and the U.S.

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It’s the first time peace talks are being held on European soil but a breakthrough isn’t expected.

“Our delegation is already in Geneva and preparing for negotiations. Russia cannot resist the temptation of the final days of winter cold and wants to strike Ukrainians painfully,” says Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Zelenskyy says the talks come as Ukrainian intelligence suggest Russia is preparing more massive strikes against Ukraine’s energy infrastructure.

The president says a deal will be hard to reach amid barrages of Russian missiles.

Russian targeting of critical Ukrainian infrastructure has been a constant throughout the war.

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Power generators are necessary for business to stay open as Russia’s frequent air strikes on the power grid have caused days-long outages of electricity, heating and water amid the coldest winter of the war – where temperatures drop below -20 Celsius.

“We had to close due to the intense cold, which made our team of girls fall ill. It was simply impossible to receive customers because they would freeze,” says Iryna Molchanova of G-Bar Irpin Beauty Salon.

Volunteers have set up outdoor kitchens to serve meals to vulnerable people struggling without heat or power in their homes.

“Putin continues daily to bomb civilian infrastructure, the people of Ukraine are struggling through one of the coldest winters in modern memory,” says Chris Coons, a U.S. Democratic Senator from Delaware.

Speaking to Fox News Sunday, Coons says the bipartisan U.S. delegation in Kyiv is promising more sanctions against Russia to increase the cost of fighting Ukraine.

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A sentiment reiterated by democratic senator Richard Blumenthal Monday.

“I am working with Senator Graham on a sanctions bill that we hope is on the verge of a vote,” says Sen. Blumenthal.

Ahead of Tuesday’s talks, the Ukrainian president has said he remains unwilling to give up territory in the Donbas region – a central demand from Russia – or to abandon the 200,000 Ukrainians living in the north.

For its part, the Kremlin says this second round of peace talks will cover a broader range of issues, but will include sensitive questions over territory.

Ukraine is under mounting pressure from the U.S. to strike a deal.

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