Ukraine is prepared to refrain from striking Russian energy and other critical infrastructure if Russia also ceases its attacks on corresponding Ukrainian targets. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that Kyiv has already proposed to its partners that they seek such a mutual agreement with Moscow.
- Ukraine is proposing a mutual commitment to refrain from attacks on critical infrastructure.
- These include the energy sector, ports, logistics and food facilities.
- Kyiv is prepared to refrain from attacking if Russia does the same.
- Zelenskyy expects his partners to propose a specific mechanism for reaching an agreement.
- Such a move could mark the start of de-escalation.
Ukraine has proposed an agreement with Russia to its partners
Zelensky stated that Ukraine had proposed to its international partners that they secure an agreement with Russia that would halt the destruction of critical infrastructure.
According to him, facilities on which people’s basic livelihoods depend – such as energy, food and other critical sectors – should be given special protection.
The President emphasised that Russian strikes are regularly directed at Ukrainian energy facilities, port and logistics infrastructure, as well as food warehouses and pharmaceutical products.
At the same time, Zelenskyy noted that Ukraine is not convinced that Russia is prepared to abide by any such agreements.
Kyiv is prepared to refrain from retaliatory strikes
According to the President, Ukraine is prepared to reciprocally cease such attacks, provided that its partners can ensure that the Russian side actually complies with the agreement.
Specifically, this involves Russia refraining from striking Ukraine’s electricity sector, other energy facilities, critical infrastructure and food supply chains. In that case, Kyiv is prepared to ensure that Ukraine refrains from carrying out similar strikes.
Zelenskyy emphasised that the agreement should not be temporary, but rather reliable and long-term.
The President also warned against a scenario in which Russia might use this lull in attacks merely to resolve its domestic problems with petrol and diesel, and then renege on the agreements.
Zelenskyy described this as a possible first step towards peace
The Head of State regards a mutual commitment to refrain from strikes on critical infrastructure as one of the possible steps towards de-escalation.
«The war must be brought to an end. And a de-escalation measure regarding critical infrastructure could be the first step towards peace,» said Zelenskyy.
According to him, Ukraine is now expecting its partners to put forward specific proposals on how such a agreement can be achieved in practice.
Zelenskyy has expressed a similar position before. On 11 September, he stated that Ukraine was ready for an «energy truce» if Russia ceased its attacks on the Ukrainian power grid. At the same time, he warned that should Russia make any further attempts to leave Ukraine without power, Moscow would face a response.
The statement came following Trump’s call to halt strikes on Russian fuel supplies
On the eve of the US presidential election Donald Trump called on Ukraine to cease its attacks on Russian diesel infrastructure. He linked the Ukrainian attacks to the fuel shortage in Russia and the situation on the global diesel market. On 14 September, the Kremlin publicly endorsed this call.
At the same time, Kyiv has consistently emphasised that strikes on Russian energy infrastructure are a response to the Russian Federation’s systematic attacks on Ukraine’s energy sector. Zelenskyy is now proposing a shift from tit-for-tat strikes to a controlled agreement, provided that Russia’s compliance can be guaranteed by international partners.
