KYIV: In a tense exchange, both Ukraine and Russia have lodged accusations with Washington, claiming that each side has struck energy facilities, thereby breaching what they describe as an understanding established in Saudi Arabia. Meanwhile, Ukraine has called on the U.S. to impose stricter sanctions against Moscow.
Both nations insist that the other has violated a supposed pact to refrain from attacking energy infrastructure, although no formal agreement exists, leaving the specifics of their commitments ambiguous.
Following individual discussions with U.S. officials, the White House stated that both Ukraine and Russia had "agreed to develop measures for implementing" an "agreement to refrain from strikes on energy facilities in both countries."
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky reported that his defense minister, Rustem Umerov, was in communication with U.S. officials.
Zelensky began his daily evening address by noting, "We have conveyed all necessary information regarding Russian infringements in the energy sector." He has previously urged Washington to enhance its sanctions on Russia.
"I believe we have reached a point where we must escalate the sanctions, as I am convinced that the Russians are not honoring their commitments to America," Zelensky stated during a press conference in Kyiv. "We have high hopes that President Trump possesses the appropriate tools to amplify sanctions against Russia."
Zelensky also mentioned that Ukraine is "open" to a full ceasefire without preconditions regarding Russia.
On the Russian front, President Vladimir Putin convened a private meeting with senior security officials on Tuesday to discuss alleged Ukrainian violations. Moscow has also reported its grievances to Washington.
‘We Passed a List’
After the meeting, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov emphasized, "We provided a list of these violations to the U.S. National Security Advisor Mike Waltz." He later added, "I also submitted this list to U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio."
The Russian defense ministry had earlier accused Ukraine of assaulting energy installations in Belgorod, a Russian region, and in the partially Russian-controlled Ukrainian territory of Zaporizhzhia.
These accusations surfaced shortly after Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiga noted that a Russian strike had left tens of thousands of people in the southern Kherson region without power. Local officials later confirmed that power had been restored.
Since its invasion in February 2022, Russia has consistently targeted Ukrainian power plants and the electrical grid with aerial assaults.
Last month, Putin dismissed a joint proposal from the U.S. and Ukraine for an unconditional full ceasefire.
Sybiga also indicated that ongoing discussions between Kyiv and Washington are focused on a minerals agreement, which would allow the United States to access Ukrainian natural resources in exchange for increased support. The two countries had intended to finalize a deal in February concerning the extraction of Ukraine’s strategically vital minerals until a dramatic televised confrontation between Trump and Zelensky interrupted their plans.
On Sunday, Trump cautioned Zelensky that Kyiv would face "serious issues" if it rejected the latest U.S. proposal, the specifics of which have yet to be disclosed by either party.
