--- title: "Zelensky Names Condition for an Energy Ceasefire with Russia: 'You Don't Attack — We Don't Touch'" description: "After his meeting with Trump, Zelensky stated that Ukraine is ready for an energy ceasefire: Kyiv will not strike Russian energy facilities if Moscow stops attacks on Ukraine's. The president ruled out any unilateral concessions." date: 2026-09-22T19:16:00.000Z lang: en url: https://xab.info/en/posts/zelensky-energy-ceasefire-condition-with-russia-en tags: [ukraine, russia, energy-ceasefire, zelensky, trump, us-ukraine, war] publisher: "XAB.info" --- # Zelensky Names Condition for an Energy Ceasefire with Russia: 'You Don't Attack — We Don't Touch' ![Volodymyr Zelensky in front of a building outlining the condition for an energy ceasefire with Russia](https://xab.info/media/2026/09/23/zelenskyi-energeticheskoe-peremirie-uslovie/zelenskyi-energeticheskoe-peremirie-uslovie-1.webp) ## 🎯 Key Points - Zelensky announced Ukraine's readiness for an energy ceasefire with Russia on the basis of reciprocity - The US promised to convey Ukraine's proposal for an energy ceasefire to the Russian leadership - Kyiv categorically rules out unilaterally ceasing strikes on Russian energy facilities - Zelensky expressed hope for ending the war by the winter of 2026 with Trump's mediation Following his meeting with US President Donald Trump, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that Kyiv is ready for an energy ceasefire with Russia. According to the head of state, Ukraine will refrain from striking Russian energy facilities on the condition that Moscow halts attacks on Ukraine's power grid and water supply infrastructure. The statement was made while speaking with journalists after the two leaders' talks, RBC-Ukraine reports. ### Conditions of the Energy Ceasefire Zelensky formulated the principle of reciprocity that, in his words, underpins Ukraine's proposal: 'If they don't want us to attack their oil refining capacity, then let them leave our power grid and water supply alone. You don't attack this of ours, and we will leave yours alone.' The president emphasized that Ukraine is ready for any format of such a ceasefire, though he did not disclose the specific details of the format. Earlier, Zelensky had noted that the agenda of his meeting with Trump included a discussion of the possibility of introducing both an energy and a maritime ceasefire. ### Washington's Role in Conveying the Proposal to Moscow The key element of the announced scheme is the mediating role of the United States. Zelensky noted that the American side 'promised to share' Ukraine's proposal for an energy ceasefire with the Russian side. At the same time, the Ukrainian president acknowledged that he has no information on Moscow's position: 'I don't know the Russian position on this matter. May God help the Americans find some way to resolve this and achieve them sitting down to negotiations.' Thus, the implementation of the initiative directly depends on Washington's readiness to ensure a communication channel and on the Kremlin's reaction. ### 'We Are Not Donors': Kyiv Rules Out Unilateral Cessation of Strikes Zelensky placed particular emphasis on the fact that during the talks with Trump there was no demand for Ukraine to unilaterally stop striking Russian facilities. 'We are not donors, especially with regard to Putin. If you want us not to respond with strikes on diesel production, oil refining and the like — we won't. We are responsible. I don't want to play games. He attacks us — we respond,' the president stated. This wording underscores that Kyiv views the energy ceasefire exclusively as a bilateral deal, not as a concession, and reserves the right to retaliatory strikes in the event of a breach of the regime by Russia. ### Context: Hopes for Ending the War by Winter The statement on an energy ceasefire came against the backdrop of broader expectations that Zelensky ties to Donald Trump's personal involvement in resolving the conflict. The head of the Ukrainian state expressed hope for the end of the war by the winter of 2026 with the help of the American president. The energy and maritime ceasefires, in Kyiv's logic, should become practical steps that reduce escalation and create conditions for full-fledged negotiations. At the same time, as Deutsche Welle notes in an analytical piece, experts disagree on whether the proposed format is a real respite for Ukrainian infrastructure or a potential trap that could limit Kyiv's military potential without guarantees from Moscow. ### Contradictory Data No significant factual discrepancies were found in the provided sources: all three news outlets (RBC-Ukraine, UNN, Asharq Al-Awsat) consistently convey the essence of Zelensky's statement. The only difference lies in the level of detail: RBC-Ukraine and UNN quote the president almost verbatim, whereas Asharq Al-Awsat limits itself to noting the fact of the discussion of an energy ceasefire without direct quotes. The DW analytical piece does not contradict the factual part but offers a critical perspective, pointing to risks for Ukraine in the event of unilateral fulfillment of the conditions. Thus, the core of the information — Kyiv's readiness for a mutual energy ceasefire and its refusal of unilateral concessions — is confirmed by all sources without reservations. ## 🔍 Fact-Check Verification - [Zelensky Names Condition for an Energy Ceasefire with Russia](https://www.rbc.ua/ukr/news/zelenskiy-nazvav-umovu-energetichnogo-peremir-1790104423.html) - Прямые цитаты Зеленского об условиях перемирия, роль США, отказ от односторонних уступок. Основной источник фактологии. - [Zelensky Summarizes His Conversation with Trump and Speaks About Next Steps to Stop ...](https://unn.ua/ru/news/zelenskii-podvyol-itogi-razgovora-s-trampom-i-rasskazal-o-dalneishikh-deistviyakh-dlya-prekrashcheniya-voini-s-rf) - Подтверждает факт встречи с Трампом, обсуждение энергетического и морского перемирия, надежды на завершение войны к зиме. - [President Zelensky Discussed an Energy Ceasefire with President Trump — Asharq Al-Awsat](https://ua.news/ru/war-vs-rf/prezident-zelenskii-obgovoriv-iz-prezidentom-trampom-energetichne-peremiria-asharq-al-awsat) - Международное издание подтверждает факт обсуждения энергетического перемирия на встрече двух президентов. - [Energy Ceasefire: A Respite for Ukraine or a Trap?](https://www.dw.com/ru/energeticeskoe-peremirie-peredyska-dla-ukrainy-ili-lovuska/a-79380179) - Аналитический материал с критической оценкой рисков предложенного формата. Не противоречит фактической части, дополняет контекст. ## ❓ FAQ ### Q: What exactly did Zelensky propose as part of the energy ceasefire? **A:** Ukraine is ready to refrain from strikes on Russian energy facilities (oil refining capacity, diesel production) on the condition that Russia halts attacks on Ukraine's power grid and water supply infrastructure. The principle is strictly reciprocal. ### Q: Will Ukraine cease strikes unilaterally? **A:** No. Zelensky explicitly stated that during the talks with Trump there was no demand for a unilateral cessation of strikes and that 'we are not donors, especially with regard to Putin.' Kyiv reserves the right to retaliatory strikes. ### Q: What role is assigned to the US in implementing the energy ceasefire? **A:** According to Zelensky, the American side promised to convey Ukraine's proposal to the Russian leadership. At the same time, the Ukrainian president does not know what Moscow's position on this issue is. ### Q: What timeline for ending the war does Zelensky name? **A:** The Ukrainian president expressed hope for the end of the war by the winter of 2026 with Donald Trump's mediation. A specific plan or roadmap was not disclosed during his remarks to journalists.