Ukraine is ready to halt attacks on Russian energy facilities if Moscow agrees to stop striking Ukraine's power and other critical energy infrastructure, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said after meeting US President Donald Trump in New York.
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Zelenskyy said the proposal for an "energy ceasefire" was discussed as the two leaders held a 40-minute meeting on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly. He also warned that Ukrainian intelligence had detected preparations for what he described as a major new Russian attack.
Writing on X, Zelenskyy called his meeting with Trump "positive and productive" and said both countries wanted to end the war before winter.
"Both the US and Ukraine want to see this senseless Russian war ended before winter. We discussed potential de-escalatory steps that can open up the way to diplomacy," he added.
Kyiv offers reciprocal energy truce
Speaking to reporters at the UN headquarters, Zelenskyy said Ukraine was prepared to stop hitting Russian energy targets, but only if Russia stopped its own attacks on Ukraine's energy network.
"We are ready for energy ceasefire," he said. "If they don’t want us to attack their diesel and refineries, and etc, we are ready – if they will not attack our energy system, our electricity, heating system, water supplies."
Zelenskyy stressed that he had not agreed to unilaterally stop Ukrainian attacks on Russia's oil industry.
Trump had raised the issue of Ukrainian strikes on Russian refineries before meeting Zelenskyy. The US president said the attacks had damaged Russian fuel-processing capacity and were also affecting diesel prices.
"It is a serious hit on the Russians. It’s also a serious hit on the price of diesel," Trump said.
Trump said the two leaders would also discuss ways to end the war, which began with Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. "I think it’s going to happen," he added.
Previous energy deal failed to hold
Trump said last week that Russia and Ukraine had agreed to stop attacking each other's energy infrastructure. However, attacks resumed soon afterwards.
Moscow had previously backed a US proposal for an energy moratorium, while also seeking measures covering Russian seaborne energy exports and sanctions.
Zelenskyy, however, rejected any immediate discussion about easing sanctions against Russia while Ukrainian cities remained under attack.
Following a meeting with UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham, he wrote on Telegram that there could be no discussion of sanctions relief "when Ukrainians live every day under the threat of missile and drone attacks".
He added that Ukrainian intelligence had detected preparations for another major Russian offensive.
"There’s intelligence right now that Russia is preparing a new massive attack against Ukraine," he wrote.
Russia and Ukraine intensify energy strikes
The latest proposal comes after weeks of attacks by both sides on energy infrastructure and other strategic targets.
Russia has repeatedly struck Ukrainian power, fuel and port facilities. Kyiv has also been preparing for further attacks on its energy network as winter approaches.
On September 15, Ukrainian officials said Russia launched about 200 drones across the country. The attacks hit petrol stations in Kyiv as well as energy and port infrastructure in other areas.
Ukraine has meanwhile stepped up its long-range drone campaign against Russia's oil industry. Its strikes have targeted refineries and other energy facilities as far as 3,000km from the Ukrainian border.
A September 20 strike reportedly forced the Moscow oil refinery to stop crude processing. The refinery processed around 230,000 barrels of crude oil a day in 2024, according to industry sources cited by Reuters.
The proposed energy ceasefire would therefore focus on a specific part of the wider conflict, rather than amounting to a broader halt in fighting.
