Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Tuesday that Ukraine would support a U.S. proposal to halt attacks on Russian energy infrastructure but warned that Moscow was using the negotiations to delay and weaken Kyiv.
The White House earlier confirmed that Russian President Vladimir Putin had accepted U.S. President Donald Trump's proposal for a 30-day pause in strikes on Ukrainian and Russian energy facilities. Speaking at an online briefing, Zelenskyy said Ukraine was prepared to back the agreement.
“Our side (would) support this,” he told reporters when asked about the ceasefire proposal, adding that he would welcome any move toward a “stable and just peace.”
Ukraine has launched drone strikes on Russian oil refineries in an effort to undermine Moscow’s war effort, while Russia has repeatedly bombarded Ukraine’s power grid, causing blackouts and damaging gas production sites.
Zelenskyy, however, suggested that Russia was not fully committed to the ceasefire. He pointed out that since Kyiv agreed in principle to the deal at talks in Jeddah last week, Russia has intensified its bombardments.
“Russia has launched more than 1,300 guided bombs, eight missiles, and nearly 600 long-range drones at Ukraine since the talks in Saudi Arabia,” he said.
Ukraine had already proposed the idea of halting attacks on energy infrastructure during those negotiations, he added.
Despite the energy ceasefire agreement, Moscow did not grant Washington the unconditional 30-day truce it had sought. Zelenskyy said Russia’s latest demands, including an end to Western military and intelligence assistance for Ukraine and limits on Kyiv’s military draft, were designed to weaken Ukraine.
The Ukrainian leader said he had spoken with French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz following Trump’s phone call with Putin and hoped to discuss the situation directly with the U.S. president.
“I think it will be right that we will have a conversation with President Trump and we will know in detail what the Russians offered the Americans or what the Americans offered the Russians,” he said.
Zelenskyy also sought to reassure Ukrainians that Western military aid would not be cut.
“We are in constant communication. I am confident that there will be no betrayal from our partners and that the assistance will continue,” he said.
U.S. President Donald Trump delivered a wide-ranging address from the White House in which he sought to highlight what he described as his administrat...
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for the 18th of December, covering the latest developments you need to...
Australia has been plunged into mourning following the deadly shooting at a Jewish holiday gathering on Sydney’s Bondi Beach, with the funeral of 10...
The United States military has carried out another lethal strike against an alleged drug-trafficking vessel in the eastern Pacific Ocean, marking the ...
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has urged Ukraine’s allies to secure support for Kyiv and convince Russia that pressing on with the war would be futil...
U.S. President Donald Trump delivered a wide-ranging address from the White House in which he sought to highlight what he described as his administration’s achievements while laying the groundwork for his plans for the year ahead and beyond, on Wednesday (18 December).
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for the 18th of December, covering the latest developments you need to know.
Australia has been plunged into mourning following the deadly shooting at a Jewish holiday gathering on Sydney’s Bondi Beach, with the funeral of 10-year-old Matilda marking a deeply emotional moment for the nation.
The United States military has carried out another lethal strike against an alleged drug-trafficking vessel in the eastern Pacific Ocean, marking the second such attack in the space of a week and underscoring a sharp escalation in Washington’s anti-narcotics campaign.
Cambodia must be the first to declare a ceasefire in the ongoing border conflict, Thailand said on Tuesday (16 December), as fighting continued despite earlier claims that hostilities would stop and at least 52 people have been killed on both sides.
The latest clashes between Thailand and Cambodia mark a dangerous escalation in one of Southeast Asia’s oldest and most sensitive disputes.
In the complex world of international diplomacy, the ongoing tensions between India and Pakistan have raised significant questions about the role of third-party mediation.
The fourth European Conference on Azerbaijani Studies was held in Vienna, Austria, on 5 December, by the European Network for Azerbaijani Studies and the Strategic Consultancy Group.
President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev is visiting the United Arab Emirates at the invitation of President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan on Wednesday, 17 December, as the two countries seek to further strengthen their partnership.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for the 18th of December, covering the latest developments you need to know.
Australia has been plunged into mourning following the deadly shooting at a Jewish holiday gathering on Sydney’s Bondi Beach, with the funeral of 10-year-old Matilda marking a deeply emotional moment for the nation.
The United States military has carried out another lethal strike against an alleged drug-trafficking vessel in the eastern Pacific Ocean, marking the second such attack in the space of a week and underscoring a sharp escalation in Washington’s anti-narcotics campaign.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has urged Ukraine’s allies to secure support for Kyiv and convince Russia that pressing on with the war would be futile. He made the comment during his evening address on Wednesday ahead of a key European Union summit focused on Moscow’s frozen assets.
U.S. President Donald Trump delivered a wide-ranging address from the White House in which he sought to highlight what he described as his administration’s achievements while laying the groundwork for his plans for the year ahead and beyond, on Wednesday (18 December).
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