Russia and Ukraine energy ceasefire: Who is saying whatpublished at 12:00 BST
12:00 BST
Steve Rosenberg
Russia editor
Donald Trump says: An energy ceasefire has been agreed.
Kyiv says: Has it? It’s willing to sign up – if Russia does.
Russia is saying: Very little.
On his daily conference call for journalists, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov was asked whether there’d been an agreement for a ceasefire.
“Contacts are continuing,” Peskov replied. “As soon as we have anything to say about this, we will definitely inform you.”
And what about President Zelensky’s call for a 60-day Russian ceasefire to allow the holding of presidential elections in Ukraine?
“The Kremlin, the president, has said many times before, we don’t want a ceasefire, we want a lasting peace, and we’re willing to do whatever’s possible for that,” Dmitry Peskov said.
The Kremlin has, indeed, stated this repeatedly. President Putin has shown little desire for any kind of ceasefire – including a halt to strikes on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure.
Recent statements, speeches and signals from President Putin suggest that, with winter approaching, the Kremlin is calculating that a continued campaign of Russian strikes will significantly increase the pressure on Ukraine.