Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky says Ukraine is ready to take “de-escalatory” steps, including pausing attacks on Russian energy infrastructure, if Russia does the same. The remarks come after US President Donald Trump announced that Russia and Ukraine appeared to have agreed to end strikes on energy sites.
Zelensky makes the conditional offer in a context where Ukraine and Russia continue to trade attacks on critical infrastructure. France 24 and others report that Kyiv warns Russian strikes on Ukraine’s rail network are increasing in frequency, occurring “each week,” and that the situation is worsening. Some outlets also describe Zelensky referencing a US proposal for a mutual halt to strikes on critical infrastructure, while others note Trump’s criticism of Ukraine’s actions against Russian refineries and the claimed link to diesel fuel shortages.
Al Jazeera adds that Zelensky ties de-escalation to assurances from the United States that Russia is genuinely prepared to stop attacks. Across reports, Russia does not provide an immediate public response to the claimed understanding.
