Ukraine offers to halt Russia strikes if Moscow spares critical infrastructure

Ukraine on Monday said it is ready to stop striking targets inside Russia if its allies can secure a genuine Russian commitment not to attack Ukraine's critical infrastructure. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's remarks came after US President Donald Trump said in a social media post that Russia and Ukraine had agreed "not to hit" each other's energy infrastructure, though he gave no further details.

Russia did not immediately comment on Trump's claim. Previous attempts to broker even a partial ceasefire have repeatedly fallen apart within hours, with both sides accusing each other of violations.

Trump's post came a day after he called on Zelenskyy to stop targeting Russian oil refineries and other infrastructure used to produce and distribute diesel, saying the attacks were causing a global shortage.

Diesel prices have surged in the US, and high fuel costs linked to the Iran war have become a major issue for Trump's party ahead of congressional elections. Trump also said the rise in global diesel prices "is mostly caused by the Russian/Ukraine war" and not Iran. But restricted shipments caused by the slowdown of oil flowing through the Strait of Hormuz and damaged refining systems in Russia are causing strains in the energy market.

In his post, Zelenskyy said Ukraine had proposed that its partners help secure an agreement with Russia for a ceasefire, adding that it was not the first time Kyiv had floated the idea. "Every day, Ukrainian energy facilities, port infrastructure, logistics, even food and pharmaceutical warehouses become targets," he said. "The war must be ended. And a de-escalation step regarding critical infrastructure could be a first step toward peace."

Zelenskyy said he "expects concrete proposals from our partners". After Trump called on Zelenskyy on Sunday to stop the strikes, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said any call on Kyiv to stop strikes on civilian economic infrastructure "can only be welcomed".

The latest exchanges underline Ukraine's offer to pause strikes on Russian territory if there is a real Russian commitment to stop attacks on critical infrastructure, even as efforts at a limited ceasefire remain uncertain.