Ukraine is ready to stop attacks on Russian oil refineries if Moscow also halts strikes on Ukrainian energy infrastructure, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Sunday.
Zelenskyy said any such agreement would require “real guarantees” and repeated Kyiv’s position that a halt to attacks on energy infrastructure must be mutual.
“The real cause of the war in Europe is Russia and Russia alone,” Zelenskyy said. “It’s possible to stop strikes on energy infrastructure as early as today, but Putin does not want to do so.”
Zelenskyy’s comments came a day after U.S. President Donald Trump called for Ukraine to get a new president and criticised Kyiv’s attacks on Russian oil refineries.
Trump said Ukrainian strikes were contributing to higher diesel prices in the U.S. and argued that Zelenskyy had missed opportunities to reach a deal with Moscow.
“I think it’s time for Ukraine to get a new president,” Trump told reporters at the White House.
Trump’s comments followed his announcement of a diesel supply deal with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Zelenskyy criticised the agreement, saying that easing pressure on Moscow could encourage further Russian attacks.
German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul restated Berlin's support for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Sunday following Trump's call for his removal and urged more pressure to be put on Russia to resume peace talks.
Wadephul said Germany remained by the side of Ukraine and its government “and fully support the President as he carries out his difficult duties.”
He made the comment at a leadership meeting of Chancellor Friedrich Merz's conservative Christian Democrats (CDU).
Germany, the biggest European donor to Ukraine, said on Saturday it would maintain sanctions against Russia despite Trump's announcement that his administration had temporarily lifted U.S. sanctions on Russian fuel.
Wadephul, who met his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov on the margins of the United Nations General Assembly in New York last month, said “consistency and clarity” were needed to support Ukraine and bring Moscow to negotiate.
“We don't need less pressure, we need more pressure on Putin to make him be ready to negotiate,” Wadephul said. “That is what this moment requires and that's what the government stands for.”
British Prime Minister Andy Burnham spoke with Zelenskyy on Saturday and told him the UK would continue to strengthen its sanctions on Russia, a Downing Street spokesperson said.
The dispute comes as Russian strikes on Ukrainian energy infrastructure continue and Kyiv says it needs more air defence support.
Zelenskyy said he would continue discussions with European leaders, with daily talks focused on additional air defence packages and ammunition for aircraft used against Russia’s jet-powered drones.
The latest Russian attacks have also intensified pressure on Ukrainian cities and their energy systems ahead of winter.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian and European officials have been holding talks with U.S. negotiators on possible proposals to end the war. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha is due to attend an European Union Foreign Affairs Council meeting on Monday, where ministers are expected to discuss additional sanctions on Russia and Ukraine’s EU accession process.
Ukraine is ready to stop attacks on Russian oil refineries if Moscow also halts strikes on Ukrainian energy infrastructure, President Volodymyr Zel...
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The United Nations has condemned a sharp rise in attacks on civilians in Ukraine, reporting that more than 100 people were killed and at least 429 injured in a single week as Russian strikes hit residential areas, passenger buses and critical infrastructure.
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Three people were injured in a stabbing at a further education college in Warsaw on Saturday, police said, as a series of violent incidents involving young people raised concerns about possible copycat attacks in Poland.
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