AGENCIES
Russia and Ukraine yesterday accused each other of violating a new agreement to refrain from attacks on energy targets, with scores of drone strikes launched hours after US President Donald Trump spoke by phone to Russia’s Vladimir Putin.
In the phone call between the US and Russian leaders on Tuesday, Putin rejected a proposed full 30-day ceasefire, which had been sought by Trump and previously accepted by Ukraine.
Putin said he would agree only to pause attacks on energy infrastructure, a proposal that was swiftly accepted by Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky, who nevertheless denounced Moscow for rejecting a more comprehensive truce.
But even that narrow pause appeared in doubt yesterday. Moscow said Ukraine hit an oil pumping station in southern Russia, while Kyiv said Russia had struck hospitals and homes, and knocked out power to some of its railways.
Zelensky said that the continued attacks showed Moscow’s words were not aligned with its actions, and that Russia was still not ready for peace. He said the United States should be put in charge of monitoring any ceasefire.
Zelensky also warned against heeding a Kremlin call to halt military aid for his country and announced he would speak with Trump later within hours.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Putin and Trump understand each other well and were determined to restore badly damaged ties.
Russia and the United States will decide on dates for future talks in the coming days, the Kremlin said.
“Both today and tomorrow, there will be additional agreements on the exact, precise dates,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters when asked about future talks with the US.
Some European leaders said Putin’s rejection of Trump’s proposed full truce was proof Moscow not seeking peace. The offer to temporarily stop attacking Ukrainian energy facilities counted for “nothing” and Trump would have to win greater concessions, Germany’s defence minister said.
European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said that Moscow cannot be trusted.