A Russian speaker of the parliament, Vyacheslav Volodin, has threatened Kyiv with "new problems starting next week." The warnings came as winter temperatures are expected to drop below –20°C or –4°F in Ukraine over the next seven days.
Russia has conducted 256 strikes on Ukraine's energy infrastructure since the start of the cold season. Terrorist attacks disrupt hospital operations, prevent people with illnesses from using elevators, and cut off oxygen supply to medical equipment.
At the same time, Russia is bombing evacuation trains in an attempt to provoke protests in major cities, increase pressure on the authorities, and force Ukraine to capitulate.
Russia plans "peace talks" and threatens with terror
Volodin has issued his threats ahead of another round of talks in Abu Dhabi between Ukrainian and Russian delegations.
"Our troops are advancing. Deputies of the State Duma insist on using more powerful weapons' retaliation weapons' to achieve the objectives of the 'special military operation,'" Volodin wrote on social media.
He has cynically accused Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of allegedly refusing to implement the "agreements of Putin and Trump."
What exactly this means is unclear. However, the Ukrainian leader has been refusing to cede the Donetsk and Luhansk regions to the Russians. Such "presents" for Moscow will create the background for protests and genocide, as nearly 800,000 people still live there.
Ghosts of the Nazi past: what are "retaliation weapons"?
The term "retaliation weapons" (German Vergeltungswaffen, V-weapons) historically refers to a series of Nazi missile and artillery projects (V-1, V-2, V-3), developed to bomb cities, mainly London, in 1944–1945, as revenge for Allied air raids.
Russia's use of modern equivalents of this concept suggests the targeting of civilian populations, rather than precise military strikes.
"Diplomacy on the edge": negotiations and strategic risks
Earlier, Russian negotiator Kirill Dmitriev arrived in Miami for another round of talks with Washington, while Ukraine prepares for possible meetings with Russia in Abu Dhabi.
Previously, during the last round of negotiations, Russia launched a large-scale strike on Kyiv, killing civilians. Despite this, there was no strong reaction from the US. No sanctions were imposed, nor were other pressure mechanisms applied. Russia used inaccurate Kh-22 missiles, which also contain large amounts of toxic substances.
Frequently asked questions
The term "retaliation weapons" (originally the German Vergeltungswaffen) refers to a Nazi-era concept involving V-1 and V-2 missiles used to bomb civilian targets like London during WWII. By using this term, Russian officials are signaling a shift toward more powerful, potentially less precise weapons aimed at civilian populations and infrastructure.
The threats coincide with a forecasted drop in winter temperatures to below –20°C (–4°F) and upcoming diplomatic talks in Abu Dhabi. Russia is leveraging the extreme cold and continued strikes on energy infrastructure to pressure the Ukrainian government and provoke internal protests.
During previous rounds of negotiations, Russia launched large-scale missile strikes on Kyiv that resulted in civilian casualties. Despite these attacks, which included the use of inaccurate and toxic Kh-22 missiles, there was no significant diplomatic reaction or new sanctions from the United States.
