Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has expressed the country’s willingness to consider an energy ceasefire with Russia, contingent upon Moscow refraining from attacks on Ukrainian energy infrastructure. Zelenskyy’s comments were made during a recent press briefing, where he indicated that discussions regarding this initiative are already taking place with partners in the Middle East.
“We do not simply strike; we respond,” Zelenskyy stated, emphasizing that Ukraine’s military actions are reactions to Russian aggression. He noted that following a global energy crisis, some partners have signaled interest in reducing Ukraine’s responses to attacks on Russia’s energy sector. “If Russia is ready not to strike at Ukrainian energy, we will not respond to their energy sector,” he added.
Additionally, Zelenskyy reiterated Ukraine’s openness to various forms of ceasefire. He stated, “We are prepared for any ceasefire, a complete ceasefire, including an energy ceasefire, as well as on land and in the air. We proposed this and are open to discussions if the Russians are willing to engage. We are ready to resolve this matter at any time they propose.”
The president also mentioned ongoing initiatives with partners in the Middle East, highlighting their assistance in various areas, including prisoner exchanges and the return of Ukrainian children from abroad. “These discussions are a priority for us,” he noted.
In a related development, Zelenskyy previously indicated Ukraine’s readiness for a ceasefire during the upcoming Easter holidays.
On January 29, U.S. President Donald Trump stated that he personally requested Russian President Vladimir Putin to halt attacks on Ukrainian cities for one week to facilitate negotiations. Zelenskyy expressed gratitude for this initiative, stating that it had been a topic of discussion during trilateral meetings in Abu Dhabi on January 23-24.
On January 30, the Kremlin announced that Russia had agreed to temporarily suspend strikes on Kyiv until February 1 to create favorable conditions for talks. However, on February 3, Russian forces launched drone and missile attacks across various regions of Ukraine, including Kyiv, Kharkiv, and Sumy, damaging educational institutions, residential buildings, and infrastructure. DTEK reported that its thermal power plants had been targeted for the ninth time in four months.
Ukrainian Energy Minister Denys Shmyhal confirmed that Russian attacks had targeted heating plants operating solely for residential heating in Kyiv, Kharkiv, and Dnipro. The Ukrainian Air Force reported that Russian forces had deployed 521 aerial attack assets, including air- and ground-launched missiles and drones, with Ukrainian defenses successfully neutralizing 38 missiles and 412 drones.
Zelenskyy remarked that the recent attacks reflect Moscow’s unwillingness to engage in negotiations, prompting the Ukrainian negotiating team to adjust its strategy. He clarified that the proposal for a pause in strikes originated from the U.S. and was personally communicated by Trump, while Russia responded with a significant missile barrage just days after the agreement was reached.
On February 3, Trump noted that Putin had adhered to the agreement regarding a pause in attacks on Ukrainian energy during severe cold weather, which lasted from Sunday to the following Sunday. On February 7, Zelenskyy reported that during the second round of trilateral talks in Abu Dhabi on February 4 and 5, the American delegation proposed further de-escalation of strikes on energy targets.
On February 11, Zelenskyy stated that Ukraine had yet to receive a response from Russia regarding its willingness to engage in an energy ceasefire. Subsequently, on February 14, National Security and Defense Secretary Rustem Umerov indicated that Ukraine aims to discuss the energy ceasefire during trilateral talks in Geneva.
President Zelenskyy has indicated Ukraine's readiness to consider an energy ceasefire with Russia, contingent on Moscow's commitment to halt attacks on Ukrainian energy infrastructure. Ongoing discussions with Middle Eastern partners are aimed at addressing these issues, alongside broader negotiations regarding a potential ceasefire.