Ukraine and Russia negotiate to end attacks on energy infrastructure - FT

The destroyed turbine hall at the Trypilya Thermal Power Plant after a Russian rocket attack on April 11, photo: Getty Images

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According to the FT, Ukraine and Russia are holding preliminary negotiations to stop attacks on each other’s energy infrastructure.

Source: Times of Finance with reference to informed sources

Details According to FT sources, Kyiv is trying to restart talks through the mediation of Qatar.

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The publication notes that these talks were said to be close to an agreement in August, but broke down due to the operation of the Defense Forces in the Kursk region.

Direct speech FT source: “There are very early talks about restarting something.

Discussions are currently underway about energy resources.”

Details The publication notes that the agreement would mark the most significant de-escalation of the war since Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered a full-scale attack on Ukraine in early 2022.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said this month that an agreement to protect energy resources could signal Russia’s readiness for broader peace talks.

Moscow and Kyiv have already reduced the frequency of attacks on each other’s energy infrastructure in recent weeks as part of agreements reached by their intelligence services, according to a senior Ukrainian official.

The FT notes that as winter approaches, Ukraine faces serious challenges from massive Russian missile strikes that have destroyed almost half of its energy generation capacity.

Literally FT: “Both Kyiv and Moscow previously recognized that it was in their common interest to stop attacks on Ukraine’s energy grid and Russia’s oil refining facilities.

But Putin is unlikely to agree to a deal until Russian troops push Ukrainian troops out of the Kursk region, where they still control about 600 square kilometers. km of borders…”

Details Nevertheless, Ukraine plans to pursue attractive targets including oil refineries to force Russia into negotiations, a senior Ukrainian official said.

Four Ukrainian officials told the FT that Kyiv and Moscow made a “tacit agreement” last fall that they would not attack each other’s energy resources.

What is ahead: President of Ukraine Vladimir Zelensky saidthat a halt to Russian airstrikes on Ukrainian energy facilities and cargo ships could open the way to talks to end the war.

Let us remember you:

Secretary of the Russian Security Council, former Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu in September saidbefore the Ukrainian forces entered the Kursk region, the Russian governor Vladimir Putin agreed to Turkey’s proposal and to give up attacks on Ukraine’s energy resources, merchant and civilian fleet.
After the Russian invasion, Ukraine tried to negotiate peace. President Vladimir Zelensky has again called the Russian dictator Vladimir Putin to discuss all urgent issues in a personal meeting. He ignored him. As a result, Zelensky said that Putin’s statements about fighting for peace are not honestand they agreed to the decision of the National Security and Defense Council on it inability to communicate with him.
Within weeks of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, a peace deal could be in place. The conditions for ending the war were outlined in a 17-page draft agreement, which the parties agreed on April 15, 2022. Russia demanded independence from Ukraine, limiting the number of military work, weapons, equipment and aircraft. The occupied territories were to remain with Russia.
In April 2022, Russia effectively suspended peace talks with Ukraine by inserting a provision in the draft treaty that it would have a veto over the international community’s response in the event of an attack. take Ukraine again.
In September 2024, Russian governor Vladimir Putin said that Russia had not given up on negotiations with Ukraine, but based on the “documents” agreed in Istanbul in 2022.