Zelenskyy Says Ukraine Ready to Halt Strikes if Russia Agrees to Protect Critical Infrastructure

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said Ukraine is prepared to suspend attacks on Russian territory if the United States can secure a firm commitment from Moscow to stop targeting critical infrastructure in Ukraine.

Zelenskyy made the statement on Monday, following remarks by US President Donald Trump that Russia and Ukraine had agreed to stop attacking each other’s energy facilities.

Trump, however, did not provide further details about the reported understanding.

Zelenskyy said any decision by Ukraine to reduce or halt its attacks would depend on Washington ensuring that Russia was genuinely prepared to end the war and maintain a long-term commitment to de-escalation.

He stressed that Ukraine would only take what he described as “de-escalatory steps” if there were credible assurances that Russia was ready to stop the conflict and its attacks on Ukrainian territory.

According to Zelenskyy, Ukraine has proposed that its international partners work toward an agreement with Russia to stop attacks on critical infrastructure, particularly facilities linked to food supplies, energy and other essential services.

He accused Russia of repeatedly targeting infrastructure that is vital to civilian life, warning that continued attacks could have serious consequences for millions of Ukrainians.

Russia’s sustained strikes on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure have placed significant pressure on the country’s electricity and heating systems, raising concerns about the impact on civilians as winter approaches.

Ukraine, meanwhile, has increasingly demonstrated its ability to carry out long-range drone strikes against Russian energy infrastructure and other strategic targets located far from the front lines.

Analysts say the escalating attacks could create pressure on both sides to reach an understanding before winter, particularly as damage to energy facilities could leave civilians on both sides facing shortages of electricity and heating.

Air Attacks Continue
Despite the diplomatic statements, fighting continued on Tuesday, with Russia and Ukraine exchanging fresh air attacks.

Ukraine’s State Emergency Service said Russian strikes on Kyiv killed one person and injured seven others from the beginning of the day.

Two additional people were reportedly killed in separate Russian attacks on the Ukrainian cities of Sloviansk and Kramatorsk.

Russia’s Ministry of Defence, meanwhile, said its forces intercepted and destroyed 222 Ukrainian drones overnight.

Russian media also reported that Ukrainian drones struck an industrial facility in the southeastern Samara region, damaging the site as well as several residential buildings.
Russia’s state news agency TASS, citing regional Governor Vyacheslav Fedorishchev, reported that around 40 drones had been shot down in the area. Ukrainian media identified the targeted industrial facility as an oil refinery.

In the Russian city of Taganrog, a large Ukrainian drone attack reportedly triggered several fires. Regional Governor Yury Slyusar said residential buildings, private homes, an educational institution, agricultural warehouses and a facility belonging to Russian online retailer Ozon were damaged.

Zelenskyy later said Ukrainian forces had targeted a drone-production facility in the city.

The latest developments highlight the continuing difficulty of securing a lasting reduction in hostilities, despite renewed discussions about limiting attacks on energy and other critical infrastructure.

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