Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Monday that Ukraine is prepared to halt its strikes on Russian territory, provided that allies can secure a genuine and lasting Russian commitment to stop attacking Ukraine's critical infrastructure. His measured response came after U.S. President Donald Trump announced on social media that both countries had agreed "not to hit" each other's energy infrastructure — a claim Russia neither confirmed nor denied.
In his daily address, Zelensky described what he called "a strong proposal from the United States regarding a mutual halt to strikes on critical infrastructure." He framed Ukraine's willingness in conditional terms: "If our American partners succeed in securing a real readiness from Russia to stop this war of destroying lives, and to do so sincerely and for the long term, Ukraine will make its own de-escalatory steps." He also said he hopes to meet Trump in New York next week to discuss a possible ceasefire covering sea and energy targets. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov did not address Trump's claim of an agreement directly, but said any call on Kyiv to cease strikes on "civilian economic infrastructure can only be welcomed." He also confirmed that Russian forces "continue to operate across the entire territory of Ukraine — and will continue to do so."
Trump's push appears driven in part by domestic economic pressures. Diesel prices in the United States hit record highs last week, and the U.S. president has blamed the Russia-Ukraine war — rather than the separate U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran — for the surge. Speaking at the Irish Open golf tournament in Ireland over the weekend, Trump urged Zelensky to choose "other targets" and not attack Russian diesel production. Both sides have escalated long-range strikes in recent months, hitting refineries, energy facilities, ports, warehouses, and rail networks. The CEO of Ukraine's state railway operator warned on Monday that Russian strikes on the rail network are intensifying "exponentially," with each week worse than the last. A Russian drone strike hit a passenger train near the Polish border on Sunday — just two kilometres from NATO territory — prompting NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte to call Russia's behaviour a sign of "growing desperation" and pledge increased support for Ukraine.
The diplomatic backdrop remains fragile. Previous partial ceasefire efforts have collapsed within hours, with each side accusing the other of violations. U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner visited Moscow and Kyiv two weeks ago without announcing a breakthrough. Meanwhile, European Union member states delayed by one week their renewal of sanctions on nearly 3,000 Russian individuals and entities, after France pushed — amid opposition from other members — to remove metals billionaire Alisher Usmanov from the blacklist, reportedly as part of a prisoner release deal involving French citizens held in Azerbaijan. Ireland, which currently holds the EU presidency, stressed that renewing the listings was "essential to continue undermining Russia's war machine." Whether Monday's energy infrastructure proposal marks a genuine turning point or another short-lived diplomatic opening remains to be seen.