Putin unwilling to agree to energy ceasefire before winter, FT reports
Russian leader Vladimir Putin does not intend to agree to a ceasefire on energy infrastructure before winter, as the Kremlin believes attacks on Ukraine’s energy system could increase pressure on Kyiv and force it into concessions, the Financial Times reported, citing people familiar with Moscow’s position.
Russia and Ukraine have resumed discussions on a possible mutual halt to strikes on energy infrastructure, according to the FT.
People involved in U.S.-Ukraine-Russia peace efforts told the newspaper that an energy ceasefire had been under discussion for some time. It was initially raised during trilateral talks and, after those negotiations stalled in February, continued to be discussed in separate meetings and private contacts.
Ukraine has for months pushed for Russia to agree to reciprocal restrictions on strikes against energy facilities, ports and other critical infrastructure. Moscow rejected those proposals and instead intensified its attacks, the FT reported.
Putin, however, is unwilling to reach such an agreement before winter because he believes Russian attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure could put additional pressure on Kyiv and force it to make concessions, according to people familiar with the Kremlin’s position.
The report comes after U.S. President Donald Trump said on Sept. 14 that Ukraine and Russia had already agreed to stop attacking each other’s energy infrastructure.
“Ukraine has agreed not to hit Russian Energy targets. Russia has agreed to do the same!” Trump said, linking the war to rising global diesel prices.
Neither Kyiv nor Moscow confirmed that such an agreement had been reached.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy later said Ukraine was ready to refrain from strikes on Russian energy infrastructure if Ukraine’s partners could ensure that Russia stopped attacks on Ukrainian energy facilities and other critical infrastructure.
“If partners are ready to ensure Russia’s genuine willingness not to strike our electricity, other energy facilities, critical infrastructure and food transportation, then we are, of course, ready to ensure a corresponding absence of our strikes,” Zelenskyy said.
He added that any such arrangement would have to be long-term rather than temporary, and said Ukraine was not convinced that Russia was willing to abide by any agreement.
Two Ukrainian officials also told the FT they believed Trump’s announcement was intended to demonstrate to Americans concerned about high fuel prices that he was working to bring them down.
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