Russia Accuses Ukraine of Countering US-Russia Efforts to End Conflict
The Kremlin accused Kyiv of countering US-Russia efforts to end the conflict in Ukraine, saying that it had tried to strike Russian energy infrastructure despite Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump agreeing to a halt on such attacks.
Putin’s 30-Day Pause on Energy Infrastructure Attacks
Putin announced a 30-day pause on striking Ukrainian energy facilities following a call with Trump on Tuesday, after turning down the US president’s previous demand to pause all hostilities.
Kremlin’s Accusation of Ukraine’s Violation of Ceasefire
"Unfortunately, so far, we see there has been no reciprocity on the part of the Kyiv regime. There were attempts to strike our energy infrastructure," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said. "These attacks are countering our common (Russian-American) efforts."
Putin’s Order to Stop Energy Attacks on Ukraine
Peskov said Putin had "immediately" given the command to stop energy attacks on Ukraine, claiming that seven Russian drones were "in the air" to be used on Ukrainian energy infrastructure but were instead shot down by air defences.
Drones Used by Both Sides After Putin-Trump Call
Both countries attacked each other with drones after the Putin-Trump call.
Clarification on Russia’s Ceasefire Commitment
The Kremlin said Putin had only committed to a ceasefire in strikes on energy infrastructure, clarifying a discrepancy between Russian and US reports after US envoy Steve Witkoff said Moscow had agreed to halt strikes on all infrastructure.
Kyiv’s Commitment to Unconditional Ceasefire
Kyiv had last week committed to an unconditional ceasefire with Russia.
Putin and Trump’s Call
The Kremlin said that Putin and Trump "trust each other and are intent to gradually move towards the normalisation of ties" more than three years into Moscow’s offensive. Peskov said the phone call between Trump and Putin lasted around two hours and that the pair had also discussed military aid to Ukraine, without giving details as "it is quite a sensitive topic and probably should not be discussed in public".
Conclusion
The situation in Ukraine remains tense, with both sides accusing each other of violating the ceasefire. The US and Russia’s efforts to end the conflict have been met with resistance, and it remains to be seen if a lasting peace can be achieved.
FAQs
- What was the outcome of the Putin-Trump call?
The call resulted in a 30-day pause on striking Ukrainian energy facilities by Russia. - What was the purpose of the call?
The purpose of the call was to discuss the conflict in Ukraine and potential solutions to end it. - What is the current state of the conflict in Ukraine?
The conflict remains ongoing, with both sides accusing each other of violating the ceasefire. - What is the next step in resolving the conflict?
It is unclear what the next step will be, but both sides have expressed a desire to end the conflict and negotiate a lasting peace.