Washington, Sept 15. (dpa/GNA) – US President Donald Trump, said Monday that Russia and Ukraine had agreed to refrain from attacking each other’s energy infrastructure, without providing further details.
“Ukraine has agreed not to hit Russian Energy targets. Russia has agreed to do, likewise! The World’s Diesel price rise is mostly caused by the Russia/Ukraine War, not Iran,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform.
Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelensky, posted on X that a de-escalating step concerning critical infrastructure could be “a first step towards peace.” “The war must be ended,” he said. In his evening video address, Zelensky described the initiative as a “strong proposal” and said Ukraine was ready to support such a de-escalation, if Russia stopped attacking critical infrastructure.
He reiterated doubts about Moscow’s willingness to end the war, but said Ukraine would take its own steps towards de-escalation if the United States succeeded in bringing about a “sincere and long-term” end to the conflict.
There was initially no response from Moscow to Trump’s statement. Ukraine has targeted Russia’s oil industry in recent months, contributing to disruptions in the country’s fuel market.
Russia has responded with strikes on energy facilities in Ukraine, and has also targeted individual fuel stations. Both sides have additionally carried out attacks on targets in the Black Sea.
On Sunday, Trump called on Zelensky to stop attacks on Russian refineries, and blamed him for a global diesel shortage. “He has to stop knocking out diesel fuel in Russia,” Trump told journalists at his Doonbeg resort on Ireland’s west coast. He added that Ukraine can go after “plenty of other targets.” Trump did not address the impact of the war involving Iran on global energy supplies or the situation in the Strait of Hormuz.
There had been no reports of new attacks on energy facilities by either side since Sunday. In his post on X, Zelensky said he had proposed to Ukraine’s partners that an agreement be reached with Russia to stop the destruction of critical infrastructure.
He said Russian attacks were aimed primarily at food and energy supplies. “Every day, Ukrainian energy facilities, port infrastructure, logistics, and even warehouses storing food and pharmaceuticals are targeted,” he said. “Ukraine is not convinced that Russia is willing to abide by any agreement,” Zelensky added. “If our partners are ready to ensure that Russia genuinely refrains from striking our electricity system, other energy facilities, critical infrastructure, and food supply routes, then, of course, we are ready to ensure a corresponding halt to our strikes,” he posted.
However, he insisted that this should not apply merely for the duration of Russia’s parliamentary elections from September 18 to 20.
GNA