Rubio says US will try to secure energy ceasefire between Ukraine and Russia
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said Washington will try to secure an energy ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine, although he acknowledged that doing so would be difficult.
Source: Rubio's remarks at a press conference in New York, as reported by European Pravda
Details: Rubio said reaching an energy ceasefire will be difficult because both Russia and Ukraine have identified attacks on each other's energy sector as a strategic objective.
Quote: "The Ukrainians are inflicting pain on the Russians by hitting their energy sector, which is a revenue source. The Russian side is inflicting pain on the Ukrainian side by targeting their electric grid, especially as we head into winter. So, there is the challenge, it's that both sides have identified energy as a strategic objective of their war aims… So that's why it's not easy to overnight just say 'Let's reach an agreement'."
More details: Rubio said, however, that an energy ceasefire would benefit both Ukraine and Russia.
Quote: "I think if you asked President Zelenskyy, he would argue that the ability to protect his electric grid is at the core of their interests. And that's something that we can help achieve through a deal. And obviously, the Russian side is facing strikes it has not seen before, deep in Russian territory and against key industries."
More details: Rubio added that the United States regards a "deal on a limited base" between the sides as an important step and will continue its efforts.
Quote: "It's something that I think is worth investing in, trying to make that happen – because I think it will be beneficial to the world and beneficial to both countries… And I think we're prepared to play a positive role, if we can, in making that come about."
Background:
- President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said that Trump had not asked Ukraine to unilaterally stop strikes on Russia.
- At the start of his meeting with Zelenskyy in New York on 22 September, US President Donald Trump said he will be discussing Ukraine's strikes on Russian oil refineries with the Ukrainian president.
- On 13 September, Trump urged Zelenskyy to stop strikes on Russian diesel fuel infrastructure, claiming that the attacks are causing a global shortage.
- Zelenskyy in fact said that Ukraine had proposed that its partners "secure an agreement with Russia that would stop the destruction of critical infrastructure".
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