Zelensky proposes to Russia a truce in attacks on energy facilities after the Trump-Putin pact

Ukraine would be willing to stop its attacks on Russian oil refineries if Moscow stopped attacking its energy infrastructure, President Volodymyr Zelensky declared on Sunday, once again the subject of harsh criticism from his American counterpart, Donald Trump.

"It is possible to stop attacks on energy infrastructure even today, but Putin does not want to do it. Ukraine will be ready to stop attacking Russian oil refineries if Russia stops attacking our energy infrastructure. Any de-escalation measures must be reciprocal and backed by real guarantees," Zelensky appeared to respond on Sunday.

On Saturday, Donald Trump criticized kyiv's attacks on Russian refineries and said Ukraine should “have a new president”; some scathing statements made just after the surprise announcement of an agreement between Washington and Moscow for the massive purchase of Russian diesel, accompanied by an easing of US sanctions on Russia.

Russia has intensified its attacks on Ukrainian territory in recent months, causing a growing number of civilian casualties. Moscow's main objective is the country's infrastructure: bridges, power plants, telephone operators, commercial warehouses, gas stations...

Massive damage to Ukraine's power grid is causing emergency power outages and restrictions have been imposed in several regions, a preview of what awaits residents this winter.

Ukraine has also intensified its attacks in Russia – actions it describes as just retaliation for the bombings of Moscow –, targeting hydrocarbon storage and transportation infrastructures, commercial warehouses and data centers.

The US president considered that kyiv's attacks on Russian refineries aggravate the global diesel shortage. “You better stop,” he warned on Saturday, addressing the Ukrainian president. Following the sharp rise in fuel prices in the United States since Donald Trump and Israel launched war against Iran in February, the agreement between Washington and Moscow is seen as a way to provide some relief to American consumers, less than a month before congressional elections crucial for the rest of the American billionaire's term.

Following Trump's statements, Russia responded by attacking Zelensky. Kremlin spokesman Dimitri Peskov says Zelensky “is hysterical and incapable of reasoning and is unlikely to be able to carry out any rational action.”

According to Peskov on Russian national television, if Zelensky “were capable of taking thoughtful action, he would now be inclined to engage in peace negotiations” with Russia.

In turn, the vice president of the Russian Security Council, Dmitri Medvedev, known for his controversial comments and one of the main Kremlin hawks, wrote on his MAX account, the Russian messaging network, that "Trump was finally blunt: the bloody clown only wants war and must disappear as soon as possible."

"What consequences will there be? Unfortunately, I think none. The bastard from kyiv will continue to intensely 'milk' the degenerate Europeans, sucking up large amounts of money and new weapons," he said, warning that those who were happy about Trump's statements should "take it easy, because only our boys (who fight in Ukraine), the ballistic missiles and the 'Guerán' drones will bring victory closer."

However, he noted that the "peacemaker" Trump's "outburst" will also be useful: "The kyiv regime has fallen into a stupor. During its collapse the rats will go crazy and attack each other."