Ukraine's Zelenskiy Backs Ceasefire On Energy In Friendly Trump Call
Trump and Zelenskiy held a disastrous meeting in the Oval Office in February, a public breach between the leaders that underscored their misalignment as Trump prioritizes a quick end to the fighting and restoring relations with Putin.
Putin’s offer to stop attacks on energy infrastructure in Ukraine follows a painful series of strikes during the winter, which had already eased as the weather warms. Meanwhile, Ukraine has targeted Russian oil refineries to cut fuel supplies and revenues.
Russia has been occupying Ukraine’s largest nuclear power plant in the southern region of Zaporizhzhia since early in the full-scale war.
Zelenskiy told reporters earlier Wednesday in Helsinki that mere promises from Putin to stop strikes on energy infrastructure wouldn’t be enough for Ukraine to halt attacks on Russian oil assets. He said that overnight Moscow targeted energy and transport infrastructure as well as two hospitals. As he spoke Wednesday evening, the Ukrainian leader said, 107 Russian drones were in the sky over his country.
The Ukrainian leader also said before the Trump call that his country would never recognize areas currently occupied by Moscow’s forces as Russian, signaling further friction ahead as both Trump and Putin have said some territory would be lost.
Trump’s envoy, Steve Witkoff, said Wednesday in an interview with Bloomberg Television that he believed a full ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine can be reached “in a couple of weeks” and that a meeting between Trump and Putin is “likely to happen.”