Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, whose country has intensified attacks against Russian oil installations in recent weeks, proposed this Monday (March 30) an energy truce to Moscow to respond to the crisis triggered by the war in the Middle East.
Ukraine recently received “signals from some of the [seus] partners” asking to “reduce attacks against the Russian oil sector”, said Zelensky in a voice message sent to the WhatsApp group he shares with journalists who follow current affairs in Ukraine.
The war in the Middle East began on February 28, when the United States and Israel carried out coordinated attacks on Iranian territory.
In response, Iran has launched missiles and drones against Israel and strategic targets in neighboring countries, in addition to maintaining a blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, through which a fifth of the world’s oil supplies pass.
“I emphasize once again that if Russia is ready not to attack the Ukrainian energy sector, we will not attack its energy sector in response,” added Zelensky, who insisted that he is willing to declare any kind of ceasefire that is also accepted by Russia.
“Remember that we are ready for any type of ceasefire that is positive. Total ceasefire. Energy ceasefire. Food and energy security. By sea and air…”, declared the Ukrainian president.
Zelensky said he conveyed that position to the leaders of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar, with whom he met later in the week during his Gulf tour and some of whom have been mediating between the Ukrainians and Russians.
The Ukrainian head of state once again called for tripartite peace negotiations with the Americans and Russians to be resumed as soon as possible and explained, once again, that the next meeting in this format – which should have taken place at the beginning of this month – continues to be postponed due to the Russians’ refusal to have it take place in the United States.
The Ukrainian president indicated that the United States negotiating team made it clear that he will not travel while his country is at war with Iran.
According to Zelensky, the Russians reject going to the United States and have proposed Switzerland and Turkey as possible locations for a new round of negotiations. The Ukrainian head of state reaffirmed that Ukraine is open to any option for the meeting to take place.
On the other hand, Kiev apologized to Finland after two Ukrainian drones crashed on Sunday in the south of that country, Ukrainian Foreign Ministry spokesman Gueorguiï Tykhy reported today.
“We have already offered our apologies to the Finnish side for this incident. No Ukrainian drones were directed towards Finland. The most likely cause is a diversion caused by Russian electronic warfare systems,” the spokesperson said.
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