Zelenskyy stressed that he had not agreed to unilaterally stop Ukrainian attacks on Russia’s oil industry.
Ukraine is ready to halt attacks on Russian energy facilities if Moscow agrees to stop striking Ukraine’s power and other critical energy infrastructure, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said after meeting US President Donald Trump in New York. Zelenskyy said the proposal for an “energy ceasefire” was discussed as the two leaders held a 40-minute meeting on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly. Writing on X, Zelenskyy called his meeting with Trump “positive and productive” and said both countries wanted to end the war before winter. Speaking to reporters at the UN headquarters, Zelenskyy said Ukraine was prepared to stop hitting Russian energy targets, but only if Russia stopped its own attacks on Ukraine’s energy network. “We are ready for energy ceasefire,” he said. The US president said the attacks had damaged Russian fuel-processing capacity and were also affecting diesel prices. It’s also a serious hit on the price of diesel,” Trump said.
He also warned that Ukrainian intelligence had detected preparations for what he described as a major new Russian attack. “Both the US and Ukraine want to see this senseless Russian war ended before winter. We discussed potential de-escalatory steps that can open up the way to diplomacy,” he added. “If they don’t want us to attack their diesel and refineries, and etc, we are ready – if they will not attack our energy system, our electricity, heating system, water supplies. Trump had raised the issue of Ukrainian strikes on Russian refineries before meeting Zelenskyy. “It is a serious hit on the Russians.