Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has stated that Ukraine is prepared to cease its attacks on Russian territory if the United States can secure a commitment from Russia to refrain from striking Ukrainian infrastructure. His remarks came on Monday, following claims by US President Donald Trump that Ukraine and Russia had decided to stop targeting each other's energy sites—a claim made without providing any substantiating details.
Trump's message appeared a day after he asserted on Truth Social that rising global diesel prices are "mostly caused by the Russia/Ukraine war" and "not Iran." This assertion, however, remains unverified and lacks supporting evidence.
Zelenskyy emphasized that Ukraine's cessation of attacks would hinge on the US ensuring that Russia is "genuinely ready to stop this war aimed at destroying life, and to do so for real and for the long term." Only then, he added, would Ukraine take "de-escalatory steps." He also revealed that Ukraine had proposed its partners secure an agreement with Russia to halt attacks on critical infrastructure, accusing Moscow of targeting food, energy, and other basic facilities "that sustain life."
Russia's repeated assaults on Ukraine's energy infrastructure have severely strained fuel systems essential for heating and electricity, raising fears that civilians could face a brutal winter. "These systems are vulnerable, and Russia has been exploiting this vulnerability, leaving thousands of households without electricity or heating for the past three winters," explained Al Jazeera correspondent Dmitry Medvedenko from Moscow. In recent months, Ukraine has demonstrated its growing long-range strike capabilities, targeting Russian energy infrastructure far behind the front lines.
"Ukraine might start responding in kind by hitting essential energy systems, and surely the Kremlin understands there's a ticking clock for both sides to reach some consensus for this winter to ensure their populations are kept warm and with electricity," Medvedenko added. The two warring sides continued exchanging air attacks early on Tuesday. Russian strikes on Kyiv killed one person and wounded seven since the start of the day, according to Ukraine's State Emergency Service.
Another two people were killed in separate Russian attacks in the Ukrainian cities of Sloviansk and Kramatorsk. Russia's Ministry of Defence claimed its forces shot down 222 Ukrainian drones overnight. Meanwhile, Ukrainian drones attacked an industrial facility in Russia's southeastern Samara region, damaging the site and several residential buildings, Russian media reported. About 40 drones were shot down, according to Russia's state news agency TASS, citing Regional Governor Vyacheslav Fedorishchev.
Ukrainian media identified the targeted industrial facility as an oil refinery. A "massive" Ukrainian drone attack sparked several fires in the Russian city of Taganrog, regional Governor Yury Slyusar said. On Telegram, he reported that two apartment buildings, three private homes, an educational institution, agricultural warehouses, and a site belonging to Russian e-retailer Ozon were damaged. Zelenskyy stated on Tuesday that Kyiv's forces had targeted a drone production facility in the city.
Source: www.aljazeera.com