FT: Ukraine discussing possible energy truce with Russia

Ukraine and the United States have been talking about proposing an energy truce to Russia under which attacks on Russia's shadow fleet and oil depots would stop in exchange for a halt to attacks on Ukraine's energy sector. However, the talks are unlikely to produce results.

Source: Financial Times, citing its sources

Details: A senior US official told the Financial Times that a trilateral meeting is expected to take place in the capital of the United Arab Emirates, Abu Dhabi, on Friday 23 January and Saturday 24 January.

The Office of the President of Ukraine noted that the trilateral meeting has not yet been fully confirmed and that the Ukrainian and US sides are waiting for Russia's response.

The format that Putin is said to propose is similar to talks that took place in Abu Dhabi in November last year, where Ukrainian and Russian negotiators met separately with US officials but did not communicate directly with each other.

The US and Ukraine discussed a proposal to Russia on a limited truce under which Moscow would stop strikes on energy infrastructure in exchange for Kyiv halting attacks on Russian oil refineries and shadow fleet tankers.

Talks with Russia on this proposal are not at an advanced stage, one Financial Times source said, adding that Putin is unlikely to agree because he views pressure on Ukraine's energy infrastructure as an important lever.

A senior Ukrainian official told the newspaper that Ukraine is also hesitant about an energy truce because its long-range drone programme has been successfully striking Russian oil and gas facilities and shadow fleet tankers.

Background: President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said trilateral talks between Ukraine, the US and Russia are expected to take place in the United Arab Emirates this Friday and Saturday.

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