Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Monday, 15 September said Ukraine is prepared to stop certain strikes against Russia — provided Moscow genuinely refrains from targeting Ukrainian energy systems, critical infrastructure, and food supply routes. The statement, posted by Zelensky on X, signals a potential de-escalatory opening in one of the most destructive fronts of the nearly three-year conflict.

What Zelensky Said

'If our partners are ready to ensure that Russia genuinely refrains from striking our electricity system, other energy facilities, critical infrastructure, and food supply routes, then, of course, we are ready to ensure a corresponding halt to our strikes,' Zelensky wrote.

He added that any partial ceasefire must be 'reliable and long-term,' and should hold beyond Russia's elections scheduled this month — a pointed caveat suggesting Kyiv is wary of a tactical pause being exploited for domestic optics in Moscow.

Trump's Claim and Kremlin's Response

The Ukrainian statement came hours after US President Donald Trump claimed on Truth Social that both sides had already agreed to halt strikes on energy infrastructure. Trump wrote that Ukraine had agreed not to strike Russian energy targets and that 'Russia has agreed to do, likewise!'

The Kremlin welcomed the development, though with conditions. Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said: 'Any call on Kyiv to stop attacks on civilian economic infrastructure can only be welcomed.' Peskov added that any country with influence over Kyiv should use it to 'encourage it to show greater flexibility, which would be a significant contribution to the settlement process.'

What Led to This Moment

On Sunday, Trump had urged Zelensky to stop striking Russian refineries, arguing that such attacks were contributing to a shortage of diesel. Separately, the Russian government had already introduced a temporary ban on exports of gasoline, diesel, marine fuel, and gas oil, citing the need to stabilise its domestic fuel market — an indication of the mounting pressure Ukraine's drone campaign has placed on Russian energy supply chains.

Zelensky, for his part, stressed that a de-escalatory step on critical infrastructure could serve as 'the first move toward peace,' framing the potential reciprocal halt not as a concession but as a calibrated opening in a broader push to end the conflict.

What This Means for the Conflict

This comes amid growing international pressure on both sides to pull back from strikes that directly affect civilian populations and global energy markets. Notably, Ukraine's drone campaign against Russian refineries has been one of Kyiv's most effective asymmetric tools, raising the stakes of any agreement to suspend it. Whether the reported consensus holds — and whether verification mechanisms exist — remains unclear. No formal agreement has been publicly announced by either government. The next few days, and whether strikes on energy targets actually cease, will test whether Trump's claim reflects a real understanding or diplomatic optimism.