Zelenskyy: Mutual Halt in Energy Attacks Could Be Key to Ending the War’s Hot Phase

Russia ceasing its aerial assaults on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure and cargo ships could open the door to negotiations to end the war, Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated in a briefing with journalists on October 21.

“When it comes to energy and freedom of navigation, getting a result on these points would be a signal that Russia may be ready to end the war,” said Zelenskyy.

According to the Financial Times, Zelenskyy stated that an agreement between Russia and Ukraine to cease strikes on each other's energy infrastructure would be a pivotal step toward de-escalating the war, citing Ukrainian drone strikes on Russian oil refineries.

Russia has been attacking Ukraine's civil infrastructure on a constant basis, making the upcoming winter one of the most challenging Europe has faced since World War II.

Bilateral cessation of strikes on energy facilities in Ukraine and Russia could be the first step towards ending the hot phase of the war, according to Zelenskyy

“We saw during the first [peace] summit that there could be a decision on energy security. In other words: we do not attack their energy infrastructures, they don’t attack ours. Could this lead to the end of the war’s hot phase? I think so,” he said.

Ukraine’s strikes on Russia’s oil refineries came as a defense tactic, having the goal of cutting off fuel supplies to the Russian military and dropping Russia’s oil refinery revenues. 

Russia's willingness to negotiate “depends firstly on the US elections”, said Zelenskyy. “Not because there will be a new president, but because right now the focus of the US is on the elections and I think it probably makes any harsh statement challenging; they don’t want the added risk.”

Additionally, Zelenskyy dismissed any discussions with Western nations about a land-for-peace deal, which would involve Ukraine joining NATO in exchange for ceding territories currently occupied by Russia.