Putin does not want energy truce with Ukraine before winter, FT reports
Photo: Russian President Vladimir Putin (Getty Images)
US President Donald Trump said today that Ukraine and Russia had agreed to an energy truce between the two countries. However, Russian President Vladimir Putin does not want to make such a deal before winter, the Financial Times reports.
According to a source familiar with the position, Moscow and Kyiv have resumed talks on a possible ceasefire in the energy sector.
However, several other sources familiar with the Kremlin’s position said that Putin does not want to make a deal before winter. The reason is that, in Putin's view, Russia's attacks on Ukraine's energy infrastructure could increase pressure on Kyiv to force Ukraine to make concessions.
Background
US President Donald Trump wrote on social media today that Ukraine had agreed not to strike energy facilities in Russia. Moscow, in turn, had allegedly agreed to do the same.
Shortly after, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reacted to the situation. He said that Kyiv had offered partners to secure an agreement with Russia that would stop strikes on critical infrastructure.
At the same time, Zelenskyy said Ukraine expects a specific mechanism from the US that will guarantee compliance with the terms by Russia. According to him, Kyiv is not confident that Moscow is ready to honor any such deal.
There were also media reports that Trump had jumped the gun with his statement, as the Ukraine-Russia agreement to halt strikes on energy infrastructure was not yet ready and the final terms had not been agreed.
