US President Donald Trump claimed a breakthrough on Monday in diplomacy between Ukraine and Russia, although his unsubstantiated declaration only elicited a very reserved comment from Ukraine and no immediate word from the Kremlin.
The assertion comes amid indications from both Russia and Ukraine that they would be willing to continue with US-brokered negotiations, which have been largely stagnant throughout Trump’s second term.
Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelenskyy last week told DW that he would be willing to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin at the G20 summit in Miami in December if rumors of Putin being invited materialized.
What did Trump say?
Trump appeared to claim that Ukraine and Russia had agreed to stop hitting each other’s energy targets.
“Ukraine has agreed not to hit Russian Energy targets. Russia has agreed to do, likewise!” Trump or his team wrote.
“The World’s Diesel price is mostly caused by the Russia/Ukraine War [sic], not Iran,” the Truth Social comment continued, demonstrating — as a quickfire series of agitated follow-up posts would reinforce — a desire to downplay rising US oil prices, the role of Trump’s war in Iran in pushing them skywards, and economic pressures closer to home.
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What, if anything, did Ukraine and Russia say?
There was no immediate comment on the matter from Moscow.
Ukraine’s presidency declined to comment but President Volodymyr Zelenskyy issued a more guarded statement online.
He did, however, say that he had recommended seeking such an accord, as winter approaches — if Russia’s cooperation could be ensured after years of it targeting Ukrainian energy infrastructure.
“Ukraine has proposed that its partners secure an agreement with Russia that would stop the destruction of critical infrastructure,” Zelenskyy wrote online. “Food, energy, and other basics that sustain life must be protected, and Russian strikes are directed primarily against them.”
But Zelenskyy cautioned that Kyiv “is not convinced that Russia is willing to abide by an agreement,” if one could be reached.
“If our partners are ready to ensure that Russia genuinely refrains from striking our electricity system, other energy facilities, critical infrastructure, and food supply routes, then, of course, we are ready to ensure a corresponding halt to our strikes.”
He said Kyiv would need assurance that this was a lasting deal and not just a bid to secure temporary relief in fuel prices in Russia ahead of elections at the end of the week.
“We expect specifics from our partners,” Zelenskyy concluded, without naming names.
Ukraine has been targeting Russian warehouses, refineries amid Iran war
As Trump’s war in Iran pushed oil prices to highs not seen since the immediate aftermath of Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, Kyiv has started using long-range drone strikes to target Russia’s refinery and petroleum supply infrastructure.
This has caused isolated shortages and price increases, even in oil-rich Russia.
Ukraine has also launched a series of high-profile strikes on Russia’s best-known online retailer Wildberries, accusing it of providing logistical support to the military.
The US miltiary action of the last six months in the Gulf has also left Ukraine poorly placed to defend itself against Russian ballistic missiles, because of US Patriot missile supplies being depleted in the Middle East.
In recent winters, Russia has frequently targeted Ukraine’s energy infrastructure to try to exacerbate difficulties of dealing with the cold. Last winter, as a particularly fierce cold snap hit Kyiv and other parts of the country, Trump announced a brief halt to strikes on Kyiv which only held for a few days.
Edited by: Kieran Burke
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