Kyiv pushed back on Donald Trump’s claim Monday that Ukraine and Russia had agreed to pause strikes on energy infrastructure.
Ukraine signaled it would be open to a truce, but cast doubt on Moscow’s willingness. Trump had said the rise in the global price of diesel was 'mostly caused by the Russia/Ukraine War, not Iran,' one day after calling on Kyiv to halt attacks on Russian refineries.
Russia and Ukraine have expressed willingness to continue negotiations under Washington’s auspices, possibly as soon as October, though few expect tangible progress.
The UN warned Kyiv faces the 'toughest winter' of the five-year war. Ukraine’s prime minister said a resilience plan would allow the country to 'get through... with dignity.'
Why it matters: Energy infrastructure is a war target, but it is also a pressure point for global fuel prices and winter survival. Any pause would matter for civilians, industry and markets watching diesel costs.
The bottom line: Washington is still trying to broker a path forward. But if Moscow is not serious, a truce on paper will not stop the damage on the ground.