Ukraine Willing to Agree to 30-Day Pause on Energy Infrastructure Attacks
President Volodymyr Zelensky said that Ukraine is willing to agree to a 30-day pause on attacks on energy infrastructure, but needs more details of the agreement.
The announcement came after a phone call between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin earlier in the day. During the call, Putin agreed to a 30-day pause on energy infrastructure attacks.
“We will support such a proposal, but we’re very interested in the details,” Zelensky said via teleconference from Finland. “What is the real proposal, what did the parties agree on?”
Zelensky noted that Russia has been bombing Ukraine’s civilian energy infrastructure since 2022 and that Moscow has intensified aerial campaigns with bombardments by swarms of Shahed drones in recent months.
Russia Demands Stop to Military Aid
The Kremlin issued a statement demanding that Ukraine stop receiving all military aid and foreign intelligence as a “key condition for avoiding an escalation of the war.”
Zelensky said he believed Ukraine’s allies would not accept these conditions and that he expected Kyiv to continue receiving foreign weapons.
“We have always supported the position of not attacking the energy sector with any weapons,” Zelensky said. “I think that partners, serious partners, will not go for it.”
Prisoner Exchange
Zelensky confirmed that Ukraine and Russia will each exchange 175 prisoners on March 19.
Ukraine’s President Reiterates Support for Peace
Zelensky reiterated Ukraine’s longstanding support for peace and its desire to end attacks against energy infrastructure, seaports, and food corridors.
“We will support any proposals that lead to a fair peace,” he said.
