23 September :Ukraine is ready to agree to an “energy ceasefire” with Russia if Moscow stops attacks on the country’s electricity, heating and water supply infrastructure, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said.
Zelenskyy made the remarks on Wednesday, 23 September, following separate meetings in New York on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly with US President Donald Trump and British Prime Minister Andy Burnham.
In messages posted on Telegram and X, the Ukrainian president described his 40-minute meeting with Trump as “positive and productive”. According to Zelenskyy, both the United States and Ukraine want to end the war before the start of the winter season. The two sides also discussed possible measures to reduce tensions and facilitate a diplomatic path towards ending the conflict.
However, Zelenskyy ruled out the possibility that Ukraine would unilaterally halt attacks or that sanctions imposed on Russia would be eased.
Before the meeting, Trump said Ukrainian attacks had damaged Russia’s energy production capacity, contributing to higher diesel prices on global markets. He also said he was seeking a solution amid concerns over rising global diesel prices and energy shortages ahead of the US midterm elections in November.
Earlier, the Kremlin had welcomed the US proposal for an energy ceasefire. At the same time, however, Moscow called for greater access for Russian maritime fuel exports and the lifting of sanctions imposed on the country.
Meanwhile, Zelenskyy asked Trump for additional deliveries of Patriot missile defence systems to help protect Ukraine from potential Russian air attacks during the coming winter. He also put forward a proposal to address the issue.
Under his plan, the United States could supply missiles from its own stockpiles now in exchange for the 600 Patriot systems that Ukraine is scheduled to receive from Germany in 2027 and 2028. Zelenskyy proposed that the United States later receive an equivalent quantity of weapons from Germany’s deliveries.
Trump did not reject the proposal outright, but he has not yet given final approval.
Zelenskyy also warned that, according to intelligence assessments, Russia could launch a major missile and drone attack on Ukraine at any time. He said a Ukrainian drone strike on 20 September had halted production at an oil refinery in Moscow. In contrast, Russia launched an attack involving around 200 drones on 15 September, targeting petrol stations and seaports in Kyiv, according to information provided by Zelenskyy.
Source: Al Jazeera.