Zelenskyy explains steps Ukraine is prepared to take towards energy ceasefire

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said there is currently no formal agreement on an energy ceasefire with Russia, although Ukraine remains willing to agree to one provided Russia stops its attacks on Ukrainian energy infrastructure.

Source: Zelenskyy in an interview with CBS, cited by his press service

Quote: "When Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner were here, they proposed thinking about refineries and other energy. I told them 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...

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."

Background:

• On 14 September, US President Donald Trump claimed that Ukraine has agreed not to strike Russian energy facilities.
• In his evening address on 14 September, Zelenskyy commented on a US proposal regarding a mutual halt to strikes on critical infrastructure. "If this can become the first de-escalatory step – a step towards ending Russian strikes on our critical infrastructure and our strikes in response – then Ukraine is ready to support de-escalation," he noted.
• The Financial Times, citing sources familiar with the matter, reported that negotiations on a halt to attacks on energy facilities have been underway for some time, but Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin does not want to reach an agreement before winter.
• Zelenskyy has stressed that Russia continues to attack Ukraine's energy facilities, while the defence forces continue to respond with strikes on businesses that support the aggressor state's military-industrial complex.

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