Russian President Vladimir Putin has agreed to halt attacks on Ukrainian energy infrastructure targets for 30 days after a call with US President Donald Trump.
Putin has ordered Russian troops to stop the strike against energy facilities, the Kremlin said in a statement Tuesday after receiving a lengthy call between the two leaders. However, he stopped accepting a broader 30-day ceasefire proposal for US support, which Ukraine said was ready to implement.
Russian leaders raised concerns that such a ceasefire could be used by Ukraine to mobilize more soldiers and Reim during a two-year suspension in the war.
Putin also told Trump, according to the Kremlin, “the key conditions for preventing conflict escalation and working towards its resolution through political and diplomatic means should be a complete suspension of foreign military aid and the provision of intelligence news information.”
In a statement, the White House said leaders agreed to talks about a potential maritime ceasefire and a wider ceasefire would begin “quickly” in the Middle East.
Trump wrote on his true social platform that his conversation with Putin was “very good and productive.”
Ukrainian President Voldimia Zelenki initially supported the US proposal for Russia’s energy infrastructure and said he was open to halting the attacks, but warned that Moscow was trying to delay negotiations for a ceasefire and weaken Kiev.
Later on Tuesday, Zelensky noted that he would continue to attack drones in Russia, including the Ukrainian capital Kiev, as evidence that Putin had no intention of seeking peace.
“It is these types of nighttime attacks by Russia that destroy our energy sector, our infrastructure, and the normal lives of Ukrainians,” Zelenskyyy wrote on social media. “And the fact that this night is an exception indicates that pressure on Russia must continue for peace.”
He called on Ukrainian allies to pressure Russia to accept peace agreements through sanctions and other measures and refuse to appeal to suspend military aid.
“Today, Putin effectively rejected the proposal for a ceasefire entirely,” Zelensky said. “It would be right that the world responds by refusing to try and extend Putin’s war.”
Avoiding energy infrastructure
In a call on Tuesday, Trump and Putin agreed to move towards peace, beginning with “technical negotiations on the implementation of an energy and infrastructure ceasefire and maritime ceasefire in the Black Sea.”
Attacks on energy targets are a constant feature of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, with strikes over Moscow’s critical energy infrastructure regularly enforces power outages across the country, affecting everything from heating and water distribution to sewage and public health.
Thousands of people in central Ukraine were left without electricity on Tuesday following a nationwide Russian attack, including more than 130 drones that damaged critical infrastructure.
Ukrainian attacks on Russian refineries, oil depots and industrial sites have also risen since January. According to an analysis by Reuters, the attack knocked out roughly 10% of Russia’s refinery capacity during the weeks of February when refineries were the hardest hit.
Al Jazeera’s Alan Fisher said Kyiv is likely to be wary that the proposal is limited to attacks on energy targets, according to a report from Washington, DC.
“Ukrainians will be concerned that Russians will use this period to acquire more land, which is why they have not agreed to the entire ceasefire,” he said.
“That’s a concern [Kyiv] And something they raised alongside Americans in the past. ”
Reported from Moscow, Al Jazeera’s Dosa Jabari said it appears to show “some degree of momentum” in diplomacy.
“What the Russians are looking for is to ensure that Ukraine is using this period to mobilize.
“The Kremlin has made it very clear that this is a condition for all kinds of long-term peace,” she added.
Europeans returned to Ukraine
European leaders said they will continue to strengthen their support for Kiev.
“We agree that Ukraine can count on us, and that Ukraine will count on Europe and that we will not allow. [Kyiv] Retiring German Prime Minister Olaf Scholz said he was working with French President Emmanuel Macron at a press conference in Berlin.
“We will continue to support the Ukrainian troops in a war of resistance against Russian aggression,” Macron said.
Scholz said a full ceasefire should be agreed as soon as possible.
“The next step must be a complete ceasefire in Ukraine. Of course, it is clear that we agree.”
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