Ukraine and Russia are interested in limited energy ceasefire, Rubio says after meeting with Lavrov
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Ukraine and Russia were interested in ending strikes on energy facilities, although it would be difficult for Washington to achieve this.
He told reporters after meeting with Sergei Lavrov, Censor.NET reports.
On a ceasefire
Rubio said an energy ceasefire would be difficult to achieve because both Russia and Ukraine had identified strikes on each other’s energy infrastructure as a strategic objective.
"The Ukrainians are hurting the Russians by striking their energy sector, which is a source of revenue for them. The Russian side is hurting the Ukrainian side by attacking its power grid, especially ahead of winter. So the problem is that both sides have identified energy as a strategic objective of their military campaigns. I think both sides have expressed interest in some kind of limited ceasefire, including in the areas of energy and grain supplies," the diplomat said.
In Rubio’s view, such a ceasefire would not stop the war but would probably help "ease some global problems."
Peace talks
The head of the State Department said Washington was ready to facilitate the process and suggested that such arrangements could form the basis of a peace agreement. Rubio stressed that the war in Ukraine could be resolved only through negotiations.
"I think if you ask President Zelenskyy, he will confirm that the ability to protect their power grid is central to their interests. And that is where we can help by reaching an agreement. And, obviously, the Russian side is facing strikes it had not faced before, deep inside Russia and against key industries," he explained.
Rubio added that the US considered it important for the two sides to reach a "limited ceasefire" and would continue its efforts.
"We are trying to play the best role we can because the mutual strikes on energy infrastructure affect the whole world. Of course, it is not easy to reach an agreement immediately, but we are doing everything we can to make it happen, because it would benefit the whole world and both countries," the US secretary of state concluded.
Background
- On September 22, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and US President Donald Trump met in New York on the sidelines of the 81st session of the UN General Assembly. They discussed Patriot production in Ukraine. Trump said that he and Zelenskyy were working together to end the Russia–Ukraine war before winter.
- Trump separately said Ukrainian strikes on oil refineries had dealt Russia "a serious blow", but had also affected global diesel prices.
- After meeting Trump, Zelenskyy said Ukraine was ready for any form of energy ceasefire with Russia. The US side is to convey the proposal to Russia.
