Key facts
- The Kremlin welcomed President Trump's proposal for a Russia-Ukraine moratorium on attacking energy infrastructure.
- Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the proposal was a 'very good idea' but required lifting sanctions on Russia and ensuring safe commercial shipping.
- President Trump claimed on Monday that Ukraine and Russia had agreed not to hit each other's energy targets, though neither side has confirmed the agreement.
- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy stated Kyiv would support an energy ceasefire only if Washington could ensure Moscow was genuinely ready to end its war on Ukraine.
- Russia hit petrol stations in Kyiv on Tuesday and Ukraine said it struck a Russian oil refinery.
- Ukraine stated refineries are legitimate military targets.
The Kremlin welcomed President Donald Trump's proposal for a Russia-Ukraine moratorium on attacking each other's energy infrastructure, but stated that removing "illegal" sanctions on Russia and ensuring safe commercial shipping were necessary preconditions. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov called Trump's suggestion a "very good idea" but emphasized the need for security in oil tanker navigation and the lifting of sanctions for global market stabilization.
Trump had claimed on Monday that Ukraine and Russia had agreed to cease strikes on energy targets, a statement that neither country had confirmed. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy expressed skepticism, stating that Kyiv would support an energy ceasefire only if Washington could guarantee Moscow's genuine intent to end the war. Zelenskiy also noted that Ukraine itself faces regular Russian attacks on its energy infrastructure and considers refineries legitimate military targets.
Russia's energy exports have been restricted due to Ukrainian strikes on its facilities, contributing to global shortages of gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel. Trump had previously urged Ukraine to stop targeting Russian diesel infrastructure, citing its impact on global prices. The Kremlin, however, attributed recent global market upheaval primarily to the conflict in the Gulf.