Kyiv, March 18 (Reuters) - President Volodymyr Zelenskiy announced on Tuesday that Ukraine would endorse a U.S. proposal to cease its attacks on Russian energy infrastructure. However, he cautioned about Russia's attempts to prolong U.S.-led negotiations and undermine Kyiv by introducing new demands.
Confirming the agreement between Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump on a one-month pause in strikes against Ukrainian energy facilities, the White House disclosed their discussion during a phone call on Tuesday.
Zelenskiy expressed support for the moratorium on energy strikes, stating, "Our side would support this," during a hastily arranged online briefing with reporters.
In an effort to weaken its larger adversary, Ukraine has utilized long-range combat drones to target Russian oil infrastructure, including refineries. In response, Russia has launched attacks on Ukrainian power stations, resulting in widespread blackouts, along with targeting natural gas production sites.
Zelenskiy affirmed his endorsement of any proposal leading to a "stable and equitable peace."
Despite Moscow's reluctance to agree to a full 30-day unconditional ceasefire sought by Washington, Zelenskiy believed that Russia was not in favor of the proposed ceasefire, which Kyiv tentatively accepted during last week's discussions with U.S. officials in Jeddah.
Following the Putin-Trump call, Zelenskiy engaged in conversations with French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, both critical European allies, to evaluate the outcomes of the dialogue between the Russian and American leaders. Moreover, he expressed hope that military assistance to Ukraine from its international partners would not be interrupted.
Addressing Putin's requirement for an end to military and intelligence aid to Ukraine as part of the conflict resolution, Zelenskiy underscored that such demands, alongside efforts to limit Ukraine's draft of civilians into the armed forces, seemed to be aimed at undermining Ukraine's stability.