Yesterday, Russia struck a power plant in Kharkiv immediately after the US president published a post about an energy truce between Ukraine and Russia. At the same time, a large part of Kyiv was left without water and electricity, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said at the Warsaw Security Forum.
The strike on Kharkiv caused further damage to Ukraine’s energy system. Clearly, Putin does not read Truth Social, where Trump announced the truce, the head of state said.
Russia wants to use another winter against Ukrainians. But continuing strikes on Ukraine will also mean continuing strikes on Russia, he said.
“This winter, if Russia does not agree to an energy truce, we will respond. That is why yesterday’s post by the US president sparked genuine interest and hope that a ceasefire could work. We in Ukraine immediately supported this idea, as we did month after month when we ourselves proposed an energy truce,” Volodymyr Zelenskyy noted.
Ukraine does not have large oil reserves or capacity. Ukraine imports most of its diesel, and so it is grateful to its partners, including Poland, for their help. The key issue for Ukraine is electricity. Year after year, the Russians try to intensify strikes on it. For Russia, however, refineries and oil capacity are crucial.
“But if Russia wants us to stop long-range strikes on oil refineries and exports, then it must stop strikes on our energy system and critical infrastructure. And stop killing our people,” he said.
Ukraine took a step towards a truce and did not attack Russian oil overnight. Meanwhile, Russia attacked gas facilities and filling stations in Ukraine with drones overnight. But Ukraine is waiting for, and wants to receive, details of the Americans’ agreements with the Russians. Ukraine is ready to sign a document setting out the agreements.