Russia’s Putin agrees to 30-day halt in attacks on Ukraine energy targets

After receiving a call from US President Donald Trump, Russian President Vladimir Putin has agreed to put an end to attacks on Ukrainian energy infrastructure for 30 days.

Following a protracted phone call between the two leaders on Tuesday, Putin called the Russian military to stop attacking energy facilities. The Kremlin issued a statement in response. However, he refused to sign a larger 30-day ceasefire proposal that Ukraine has said it is ready to implement and that the US has supported.

The leader of Russia expressed concern that Ukraine might use a truce to avenge its two-year conflict and recruit more soldiers.

The Kremlin also mentioned to Trump that “the complete cessation of foreign military aid and the provision of intelligence information to Kyiv” should be the key prerequisite for preventing the escalation of the conflict and working toward its resolution through political and diplomatic means.

The leaders agreed in a statement that Middle Eastern discussions on a potential maritime truce as well as a wider ceasefire would start “immediately.”

Trump and Putin made a commitment to “a full ceasefire, permanent peace, and energy and infrastructure ceasefires,” as well as technical discussions regarding the implementation of a maritime ceasefire in the Black Sea.

Trump claimed that the conversation with Putin was “very good and productive.”

Ukraine’s willingness to stop attacking Russia’s energy infrastructure was not immediately known.

Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine has consistently resulted in energy targets attacking critical infrastructure, with Moscow’s strikes frequently causing power outages that range from heating and water distribution to sewage and public health.

Following a countrywide Russian attack that involved more than 130 drones and damaged critical infrastructure, thousands of people in central Ukraine were left without electricity on Tuesday.

Since January, Ukrainian attacks on Russian refineries, oil depots, and industrial sites have also increased. According to a Reuters news agency analysis, the attacks destroyed up to 10% of Russian refining capacity during the hardest of the two weeks of February.

Alan Fisher, a journalist from Washington, DC, reported on how Kyiv might be wary that the proposal’s focus is on energy-target attacks.

The Ukrainians aren’t agreeing to an entire ceasefire, he said, because they worry that the Russians will try to gain more land during this time.

They had previously raised that issue with the Americans, and that is a concern for [Kyiv].

According to Al Jazeera’s Dorsa Jabbari, who is based in Moscow, the call appeared to indicate that there was “some momentum” in the diplomatic process.

The Russians are seeking assurances that Ukraine won’t mobilize and rearm during this time. Vladimir Putin’s position on that is undoubtedly a thorn in the side, she said.

She continued, “The Kremlin has made it very clear that any kind of long-term peace settlement must be made clear.”

Ukraine is supported by Europe.

Leaders in Europe said they would continue to support Kyiv.

At a press conference in Berlin with French President Emmanuel Macron, outgoing German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and other foreign ministers reaffirmed their commitment to “Kyiv can count on us, that Ukraine can count on Europe, and that we will not let [Kyiv] down.

Macron declared that “we will continue to support the Ukrainian army in its struggle against Russian aggression.”

According to Scholz, a full ceasefire should be reached as soon as possible.

Source: Aljazeera