Ukraine willing to halt energy strikes if agreement reached with US, Zelenskyy confirms

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has stated that Ukraine is willing to comply with a cessation of strikes on energy infrastructure if an agreement is reached during upcoming technical talks with the United States in Saudi Arabia.

Speaking at a press conference following discussions with Finnish President Alexander Stubb, Zelenskyy outlined the conditions under which Ukraine would agree to halt its attacks. "If we have such an agreement, there will be a list of objects. If Russians do not hit our objects, we will definitely not hit their objects," he affirmed, Caliber.Az reports per Russian media.

Zelenskyy emphasized that the agreement would specifically target energy and infrastructure facilities. However, he underscored the importance of establishing a system to monitor compliance with this potential ceasefire. "We need a system for monitoring compliance with this regime," he said, stressing that ensuring mutual adherence to the terms would be critical.

The Ukrainian president confirmed that the "partial cessation" of strikes on energy and infrastructure, along with ensuring the safety of shipping routes, would be key topics for discussion during the technical meeting with US representatives in Saudi Arabia. While the exact date for the meeting has not yet been confirmed, Zelenskyy indicated that further details would be shared once the talks are finalized.

The potential cessation of strikes on energy infrastructure is a significant development, with Zelenskyy’s comments reflecting Ukraine’s willingness to engage in dialogue aimed at reducing the impact of the conflict on civilians while ensuring that compliance is upheld.

Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump held a telephone conversation on March 18, during which they discussed a 30-day ceasefire, measures to prevent further escalation, and a range of international issues. The Russian leader agreed to Trump's proposal for both sides in the Ukraine conflict to mutually refrain from attacking energy infrastructure.

However, according to the Russian Ministry of Defence, shortly after the conversation, Ukrainian forces launched an attack on an energy facility in the Kuban region using three UAVs. The Russian military further reported that, in response to the order to cease strikes on energy infrastructure, Russian forces successfully intercepted and shot down seven Ukrainian drones targeting energy facilities connected to the military-industrial complex in Ukraine.

By Vafa Guliyeva