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Russia Keeps Striking Ukraine’s Energy Grid—Now It Wants Sanctions Relief to Stop, Report Says
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Russia is seeking sanctions relief from the United States in exchange for a possible agreement to suspend attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, while also pushing to include a ceasefire in the Black Sea as part of a wider arrangement.
According to The Kyiv Independent report on October 9, citing American and Ukrainian officials familiar with the discussions, Moscow has privately signaled that it could consider an energy ceasefire but is seeking additional concessions before agreeing to the proposal.
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Russia’s demands emerge amid an escalation of strikes against Ukraine’s energy facilities, which have left communities across the country facing significant electricity disruptions.
A senior Ukrainian defense official told the publication that Moscow is attempting to cause as much damage as possible to Ukraine’s energy infrastructure to improve its bargaining position ahead of potential negotiations.
While discussions over a possible agreement continue behind closed doors, Russian officials have publicly expressed little interest in suspending attacks on energy infrastructure.
According to The Kyiv Independent, on October 8, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov dismissed the prospect of negotiating a ceasefire limited to the energy sector.
“Kyiv is not currently proposing a long-term settlement, but rather a ceasefire in an area that is its Achilles' heel—the energy sector,” Peskov said.
Nevertheless, two Ukrainian officials and one American official told The Kyiv Independent that Moscow had privately indicated a willingness to consider the initiative, although it was linking any potential agreement to further demands.
Washington has been urging both Kyiv and Moscow to stop targeting each other’s energy infrastructure, with the proposal emerging as a key element of US-led efforts to advance negotiations.
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Several Ukrainian officials also indicated that US President Donald Trump is seeking tangible diplomatic progress on Ukraine ahead of the upcoming American midterm elections.
Following their most recent trip to Russia, Trump’s representatives Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner reportedly concluded that an agreement to suspend strikes on energy facilities remained possible.
The proposal was also raised during two visits to the United States in September by Russian envoy Kirill Dmitriev, who held discussions with Witkoff and Kushner. According to US and Ukrainian officials briefed on those meetings, Dmitriev made clear that Moscow wanted sanctions restrictions eased as part of any potential deal.
However, the precise measures Russia is seeking to have lifted have not been identified. Ukrainian officials familiar with the negotiations acknowledged that sanctions relief had been raised but said they remained unaware of which specific restrictions Moscow wanted removed.
One European diplomat informed about the discussions suggested that Russia might be seeking the release of frozen Russian assets as part of the arrangement.
“If they get sanctioned funds released… the likelihood that these will be used to escalate (war) is almost guaranteed,” the diplomat told The Kyiv Independent. “No one really thinks they are genuinely seeking to adhere to a ceasefire.”
Moscow’s demands are expected to become a subject of further discussions between Ukraine and the United States as diplomatic efforts continue.
A Ukrainian delegation is due to meet with Trump’s representatives in the United States on October 9 to examine proposals for suspending attacks on energy infrastructure and establishing a ceasefire in the Black Sea, the outlet reported.
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The Ukrainian officials are also expected to be briefed on Washington’s recent contacts with Moscow and request further details about the sanctions relief Russia is seeking in exchange for a potential agreement.
The discussions come amid a separate diplomatic initiative by the Trump administration that could also involve easing sanctions against Russia. The Atlantic reported on September 29 that Washington was considering offering Moscow sanctions relief in exchange for the release of political prisoners, potentially creating an opportunity to restore economic ties between the two countries despite Russia’s ongoing war against Ukraine.
The proposal was developed by Trump’s envoy to Eastern Europe, John Coale, who reportedly presented the initiative to the US president several months earlier. Trump is said to have approved the proposal, although the initiative remains in its preliminary stages.
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