Zelenskyy: Mutual halt to airstrikes on energy infrastructure could bring war’s active phase to end

The Financial Times reports that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that ending mutual attacks on energy infrastructure could signal Russia’s readiness to negotiate peace.

“When it comes to energy and freedom of navigation, getting a result on these points would signal that Russia may be ready to end the war,” Zelenskyy told journalists in Kyiv on 22 October.

The proposal comes as Ukraine faces significant challenges. Russian missile strikes have destroyed almost half of Ukraine’s energy generation capacity, forcing the country to rely on nuclear power plants and European energy imports.

“We saw during the first [peace] summit that there could be a decision on energy security. In other words: we do not attack their energy infrastructures, they don’t attack ours. Could this lead to the end of the war’s hot phase? I think so,” Zelenskyy said.

Ukraine’s military has experienced setbacks along the 1,000km frontline, despite maintaining control of territory in Russia’s Kursk Oblast following an unexpected offensive.

Regarding potential peace negotiations, Zelenskyy said that Russia’s willingness to negotiate “depends firstly on the US elections.” He expressed hope for a “more positive reaction” following the US vote.

The Ukrainian president denied discussing any land-for-peace arrangements with Western allies that would exchange NATO membership for territories currently under Russian control.

“Some partners may think about it. But they do not communicate this directly through me, but rather through the media,” he said.

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