President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that Ukraine is ready not to strike Russian energy and other critical facilities if partners ensure that Russia genuinely complies with such an agreement. He stressed that Kyiv is not confident in Moscow’s willingness to comply with any agreements.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy reported this on Telegram.
According to the president, Ukraine proposed that its partners ensure an agreement with Russia that would stop the destruction of critical infrastructure.
“Food, energy and other elements of basic life support must be protected, and Russian strikes are directed primarily against this. Every day, Ukrainian energy facilities, port infrastructure, logistics, even warehouses with food and pharmaceuticals become targets,” the president said.
However, according to Zelenskyy, there is no confidence that Russia has any desire to comply with any agreement.
“If partners are ready to ensure Russia’s real willingness not to strike our electricity, our other energy facilities, critical infrastructure, and the movement of food, then we are, of course, ready to ensure a corresponding absence of our strikes,” Zelenskyy wrote.
He stressed that such an agreement must be reliable, long-term and have a real effect on people’s lives, rather than collapse after Russia holds its “elections” and gets a temporary easing of pressure regarding gasoline and diesel.
“The war must be ended. And a de-escalation step regarding critical infrastructure could be the first step toward peace. We expect specifics from our partners,” Zelenskyy concluded.
Earlier, US President Donald Trump said that Ukraine had agreed not to strike Russian energy targets, while Russia had agreed to do the same. In a post on Truth Social, he also linked the rise in global diesel prices mainly to Russia’s war against Ukraine rather than to Iran.
