Russia and Ukraine, through Qatar’s mediation, have entered into “preliminary negotiations” to stop attacks on each other’s energy infrastructure, the Financial Times writes, citing sources. According to a diplomat familiar with the negotiations, these are “very early negotiations on the possible resumption of something,” the newspaper writes.
Moscow and kyiv planned to start “secret negotiations,” also mediated by Qatar, to stop attacks on energy facilities, the Washington Post wrote about this in August, citing sources. The parties were “close to an agreement”, but negotiations were interrupted by the invasion of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in the Kursk region, notes the Financial Times.
“Türkiye suggested to us… not to attack energy facilities, not to attack nuclear energy facilities and not to attack the commercial civilian fleet in the Black Sea. Our president made a decision and said, “Yes, let’s do it, we will make this decision.” – said the Secretary of the Security Council in turn. Sergei Shoigu.
However, according to him, Ukraine eventually abandoned the agreement.
If Ukraine and Russia agree not to attack energy infrastructure, this will bring peace closer, he noted Vladimir Zelensky.
Press Secretary of the Russian President Dmitri Peskov In response to Shoigu’s words, he indicated that “there were no clear agreements.”
“Now it is difficult to imagine the possibility of reaching agreements in the context of the situation in the Kursk region. But with all this, for us, I repeat once again, the main thing is to achieve our goals.” – said Peskov.
According to the Financial Times, last fall kyiv and Moscow already reached a “tacit agreement” not to attack each other’s energy facilities. However, due to drone attacks on refineries, the Russian side considered these agreements to have been violated, the newspaper writes.
In September, Zelensky said that as a result of Russian attacks, all thermal power plants and a significant part of the capacity of hydroelectric power plants were destroyed. The country’s energy system was 80% destroyed, the Ukrainian leader stressed, warning that millions of Ukrainians could be left without heat in winter.
The Russian Defense Ministry has repeatedly reported attacks on Ukrainian energy facilities. The Kremlin linked these attacks to the “needs of the military.” According to Peskov, these objects are “sometimes directly related, sometimes indirectly, to the country’s military potential.”
“Accordingly, our army is doing everything necessary for the successful continuation of the special military operation,” – he declared.
The Russian Defense Ministry emphasizes that the attacks are carried out only against Ukrainian military and energy facilities and related infrastructure, RBC reminds.
