---
title: "Zelensky on the 'energy ceasefire': Russia must 'put on the table' a list of its own facilities"
description: "In an interview with CBS News, Volodymyr Zelensky stated that Kyiv is ready for an \"energy ceasefire\" but demands from Russia a list of protected facilities and a mechanism to guarantee its compliance."
date: 2026-09-16T09:50:01.000Z
lang: en
url: https://xab.info/en/posts/zelensky-energy-ceasefire-russia-must-put-on-table-list-of-facilities
tags: [ukraine-war, energy-ceasefire, zelensky, trump, diplomacy, agriculture]
publisher: "XAB.info"
---

# Zelensky on the 'energy ceasefire': Russia must 'put on the table' a list of its own facilities

![Volodymyr Zelensky in a statement on the energy truce and the demand that Russia provide a list of its facilities](https://xab.info/media/2026/09/16/zelenskyi-energeticheskoe-peremirie-rf-dolzhna-polozhit-na-stol-spisok-obektov/zelenskyi-energeticheskoe-peremirie-rf-dolzhna-polozhit-na-stol-spisok-obektov-1.webp)

## 🎯 Key Points

- Zelensky declared Kyiv's readiness for an "energy ceasefire" provided there is a guarantee mechanism on the part of Russia.
- Ukraine demands that Russia "put on the table" a list of facilities that should not be subject to attacks.
- Zelensky pointed to a difference in understanding "energy": for Russia it is the sale of oil and gas, for Ukraine — electricity supply and gas for citizens.
- The president also called for not blocking agricultural exports, citing global food security.
- There is a discrepancy in the parties' statements: Trump speaks of a reached agreement, Zelensky of conditional readiness, Peskov of supporting contacts.

In an interview with the American TV channel CBS News, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky outlined the conditions under which Kyiv would be ready to accept a so-called "energy ceasefire." According to him, during a visit to the Ukrainian capital, special envoys of US President Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner proposed considering a halt to strikes on oil refineries and other energy facilities. Zelensky emphasized that Kyiv is ready for such an arrangement, but insists on a specific mechanism that would guarantee its compliance by Russia. A key requirement from the Ukrainian side is that Moscow must "put on the table" a list of its own facilities that should not be subject to attacks.

### What the 'energy ceasefire' means for each side

Zelensky separately examined the very concept of "energy," pointing to a fundamental difference in how it is understood by Kyiv and by Moscow. In his formulation, for Vladimir Putin energy is first and foremost the sale of oil and gas, whereas for Ukraine it is electricity supply and gas for citizens. "My message was this: if the Russians are ready for an energy ceasefire, that means no strikes on energy facilities," the president stated. Thus, the Ukrainian side interprets the ceasefire as a mutual abstention from strikes on the entire energy infrastructure, rather than a unilateral restriction, which in effect turns the arrangement into a bilateral ceasefire regime in a specific sector.

### List of facilities and the logic of de-escalation

The central element of Zelensky's position was the demand that Russia fix a list of protected facilities. "If they say, 'We are not attacking these facilities,' then they must put on the table a list of their own facilities — those they do not want us to attack," he emphasized. The president added that even in wartime it is possible to find "certain moments for de-escalation," and that the very fact of holding negotiations should demonstrate "goodwill or political will — to end the war." This logic effectively shifts responsibility for transparency onto the Russian side: without a public list of facilities covered by the regime, verifying compliance with the ceasefire becomes impossible.

### Agricultural exports and food security

Besides energy, Zelensky raised an issue that, in his assessment, goes beyond the bilateral conflict and touches on global food security. He stated that a blockade of agricultural product exports is unacceptable, because people on other continents depend on it. As an argument, the president cited figures: Russia, according to him, has up to 70 million tons of agricultural produce for sale, whereas Ukraine needs to sell about 30 million tons. "That is also in their interest," Zelensky added, pointing out that free export of grain and other products benefits both the Russian side and the world market.

### Contradictory data

The public statements of the parties show a discrepancy over what stage the arrangement is at. Earlier, US President Donald Trump declared that an agreement between Ukraine and Russia to stop strikes on energy facilities had already been reached, presenting it as a fait accompli. Zelensky, commenting on the same initiative, used a more cautious formulation: Kyiv is "ready to comply" with such an arrangement but is awaiting a specific mechanism of guarantees from Russia. Thus, Washington describes the ceasefire as agreed, while Kyiv — as conditionally accepted and requiring verification. At the same time, Russia, according to Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, positively assessed Trump's idea, stating that the Russian Federation is in contact with the Americans and supports peaceful solutions. The difference in tone — from "we agreed" in Trump's case to "we are ready, but a mechanism is needed" in Zelensky's and "we support contacts" in Peskov's — means that none of the parties has yet confirmed the existence of a legally fixed and verifiable regime.

The totality of the statements shows that the "energy ceasefire" remains at the stage of political intentions rather than a working mechanism. For its implementation, according to the logic of the Ukrainian side, at least three elements are needed: a public list of protected facilities from Russia, a mutual abstention from strikes on energy facilities, and an independent means of verification. Until these elements are fixed, any agreement to stop strikes on energy facilities will be perceived by Kyiv as a declaration rather than a guaranteed regime.

## 🔍 Fact-Check Verification

- [Zelensky on the "energy ceasefire": Russia must put on the table a list of its own facilities](https://www.rbc.ua/ukr/news/zelenskiy-energetichne-peremir-ya-rf-mae-1789551452.html) - Первичное изложение заявления Зеленского: визит Уиткоффа и Кушнера, разницу в понимании энергетики, требование перечня объектов и цифры по аграрному экспорту.
- [Zelensky proposed that Putin "put on the table" a list of facilities for an energy ceasefire](https://ru.themoscowtimes.com/2026/09/16/zelenskii-predlozhil-putinu-polozhit-na-stol-spisok-obektov-dlya-energeticheskogo-peremiriya-a206246) - Подтверждает ключевой тезис о требовании перечня объектов и датирует событие 16.09.2026.
- [Zelensky: Russia must "put on the table" a list of its own facilities for an "energy ...](https://tvrain.tv/news/zelenskij-rossija-dolzhna-polozhit-na-stol-spisok-svoih-obektov-dlja-energeticheskogo-peremirija-576058/) - Совпадает по сути заявления и контексту интервью CBS News.
- [MFA: Ukraine expects from Russia a list of facilities to which the application of ...](https://www.pravda.com.ua/rus/news/2026/09/16/8053783/) - Подтверждает позицию украинской стороны об ожидании перечня объектов от РФ.

## ❓ FAQ

### Q: What did Zelensky mean by an "energy ceasefire"?
**A:** According to Zelensky, it is a mutual abstention from strikes on energy infrastructure. He emphasized the difference: for Russia energy is the sale of oil and gas, for Ukraine — electricity supply and gas for citizens, so the ceasefire should mean "no strikes on energy facilities."

### Q: What is Kyiv's main condition for such a ceasefire?
**A:** Ukraine demands that Russia "put on the table" a list of its own facilities that should not be subject to attacks, as well as a specific mechanism guaranteeing compliance with the arrangement by the Russian side.

### Q: Did the US and Russia agree to this initiative?
**A:** Trump declared that an agreement to stop strikes on energy facilities had been reached, while Kremlin spokesman Peskov reported that Russia is in contact with the Americans and supports peaceful solutions. Zelensky, for his part, described Kyiv's position as readiness to comply with the ceasefire provided there is a guarantee mechanism.

### Q: What figures did Zelensky cite regarding agricultural exports?
**A:** According to him, Russia has up to 70 million tons of agricultural produce for sale, while Ukraine needs to sell about 30 million tons; he also called for not blocking exports on grounds of food security.