Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said there is no reason to be hopeful about US President Donald Trump’s pressure on Europe and Ukraine for peace talks. He told Russian news agency RIA that the talks are far from over. This comes just days after difficult but constructive talks between the US, Ukraine, and Russia in Abu Dhabi. Lavrov’s remarks suggest that a final peace deal may be very hard to achieve. Russia wants full control over Ukraine’s eastern regions. It is against Ukraine joining NATO or hosting western troops for security guarantees. Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in a nightly speech that “reliable security guarantees are the only real foundation for peace.” He warned Russia could test any peace deal with strikes or hybrid attacks. Meanwhile, Russia continues to strike Ukraine’s energy facilities. An energy plant near Odesa in the southern Black Sea region was hit overnight amid cold weather gripping Ukraine. Ukraine and France have agreed to start joint weapons production, said Ukraine’s defence minister after meeting with his French counterpart in Kyiv. Zelenskyy also announced Ukraine is opening exports of its domestically produced weapons to raise funds. Russian attacks damaged sites of Ukraine’s state oil and gas company Naftogaz in Poltava and Sumy regions. The EU plans to extend sanctions against Russia to include ports in Georgia and Indonesia that handle Russian oil. Russia’s defence ministry claimed capturing the settlement of Zaliznychne in Zaporizhzhia region, according to Russian news agency RIA. The Kremlin said no date is set yet for the next talks but expects them soon. Estonia’s foreign intelligence warns Russia will keep hybrid warfare against NATO and shows no real interest in ending the Ukraine war, doubting US claims of an imminent peace deal. The report says Russia’s economy is weakening but a total collapse is unlikely. Financial pressures may influence Russia’s decisions more going forward.