The Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky said that the mutual rejection of attacks on energy infrastructure facilities will contribute to the end of the hot phase of the conflict in Ukraine, reported the "Financial Times".
"We don't attack their energy infrastructure, they don't attack ours. Could this bring an end to the hot phase of the war. "I think so," he said.
"When it comes to energy and freedom of navigation, getting a result on those points would be a signal that Russia might be ready to end the war,” he said.
Ukraine is bracing for a harsh winter after a series of Russian missile strikes on thermal power plants knocked out almost half of its energy production. The country is now largely dependent on its nuclear power plants and energy imports from European countries.
If Moscow and Kiev agree to end strikes on their energy infrastructures, it would be a significant step towards de-escalating the conflict, Zelensky said in reference to Ukrainian drone attacks on Russian oil refineries.
„We saw during the first peaceful summit that there could be a solution regarding energy security,", Zelensky emphasized.
Ukraine's army has suffered a series of setbacks in recent months as Russian forces advance in several areas along the 1,000km front line, despite a surprise offensive by Kiev mounted in the Kursk region, where its troops still hold some territory .
Battlefield losses and the prospect of a winter marked by prolonged power outages have prompted Zelensky to step up his efforts to win Western support for his “victory plan,” which includes an invitation for Kiev to join NATO and additional security guarantees that would deter Russia from attacking again.
But the Ukrainian leader faces increased pressure to seek a negotiated end to the conflict as Donald Trump, who has promised to end the war “on day one”, could return to the White House, if he wins the US presidential election next month.
Russia's willingness to negotiate “depends first on the US elections”, Zelensky said, adding that he expected a “more positive reaction” of the US vote. “Not because there will be a new president, but because right now the focus of the US is on the election, and I think that probably makes any sharp statement risky.
Zelensky has denied any discussions with Western countries about a land-for-peace deal that would see Ukraine brought into NATO in exchange for giving up territories currently held by Russia.
„Obviously some partners may be thinking about it. But they don't communicate it directly through me, but rather through the media.
„In all discussions now we raise the issue of security guarantees and the strongest of all is NATO”, he said.
According to the publication, Zelensky rejected any talks about a peace agreement in exchange for territorial concessions.
The proposed “deterrence package” is a way to compensate Ukraine, which agreed to surrender its nuclear weapons after the fall of the Soviet Union, Zelensky said. When Ukraine gave up its nuclear arsenal in the 1990s, Russia signed international treaties guaranteeing the former Soviet republic's internationally recognized borders. But Russian President Vladimir Putin ignored those documents when he ordered the annexation of Crimea in 2014 and the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
„We got nothing in return, except a full-scale war and many victims,”, Zelensky said. “We do not have nuclear weapons, we are not in NATO and we will not be in NATO during the war; that's why I need this deterrent package.“
Ukraine is planning a second peace summit to discuss ending the war, but Russia's foreign minister said Moscow would refuse to attend.