Zelenskyy sets condition for energy truce: Russia must list protected targets
Photo: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy (Getty Images)
Russians must put on the table a list of their targets that they do not want Ukraine to attack during the energy truce, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in an interview with CBS News.
Zelenskyy said that during a visit to Kyiv, US President Donald Trump’s special envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner suggested that he consider halting strikes on oil refineries and other energy infrastructure.
“We are ready for an energy ceasefire, but you need to know what that means for Ukraine. For Putin, energy is selling oil and gas. For us, energy is having electricity and gas supplies for our people. My message was: If the Russians are ready for an energy ceasefire, it means no strikes of any kind with any type of weapon on energy,” the president said.
He also stressed that there should be no blockade of agricultural exports, because this is a food-security issue for many people on other continents.
According to Zelenskyy, Russia has up to 70 million tons of agricultural products for sale. Ukraine needs to sell about 30 million tons. This is also in their interests.
“If they say, 'We don’t attack these facilities,' they have to put a list of their facilities on the table – the ones they don’t want us to attack. Even during the war, you can find some moments to de-escalate. If you negotiate, that means you are showing your goodwill, or political will, to end the war,” the president added.
Energy truce
Earlier, US President Donald Trump said that Ukraine and Russia had allegedly reached an agreement to halt strikes on energy infrastructure.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, commenting on the so-called energy truce, said that Kyiv was ready to comply with such an agreement.
Zelenskyy also said that he expected a concrete mechanism from Trump that would guarantee Russia’s compliance with the terms.
Russia also responded positively to Trump’s idea of an energy truce. According to Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov, Russia maintains contacts with the Americans and supports peaceful solutions.
