Kremlin Backs Trump’s Energy Truce Idea, Pushes for Sanctions Relief

The Kremlin supported President Donald Trump’s suggestion that Russia and Ukraine should cease attacking each other’s energy infrastructure on Tuesday, while attaching conditions such as the protection of commercial shipping and the removal of sanctions against Russia.

Dmitry Peskov, a spokesperson for the Kremlin, called Trump’s proposal “a very good idea” but stated that further actions would be required in order to stabilise global fuel markets.

The Kremlin’s position came a day after Trump said Russia and Ukraine had agreed to halt attacks on each other’s energy targets. Neither Moscow nor Kyiv has confirmed that a formal agreement is in place.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Kyiv was prepared to support an energy ceasefire if Washington could establish that Russia was genuinely committed to ending the war.

Trump Announced Energy Truce

Trump said on Sept. 14 that Russia and Ukraine had agreed not to strike each other’s energy infrastructure.

He said, “Ukraine has agreed ​not to hit Russian Energy targets. Russia has agreed to do likewise!”

Trump had urged Zelenskyy on Sept. 13 to stop Ukrainian attacks on Russian oil refineries and diesel infrastructure, arguing that the strikes were contributing to higher fuel prices.

Zelenskyy said Ukraine had not received sufficient evidence that Russia was prepared to honor an agreement. He said Kyiv would support de-escalation if the United States could secure Moscow’s genuine commitment to ending the war.

“If this can become the first de-escalatory step, a step towards ​ending Russian strikes against our critical infrastructure and our strikes in response, Ukraine is ready to support de-escalation,” Zelenskiy added.

“So far, no one has ​seen any genuine willingness on Russia’s part to bring the war to an ​end. But if our American partners can secure Russia’s genuine readiness to end the war aimed at destroying lives, and to do so honestly and on a long-term basis, Ukraine will ​take its own de-escalatory steps,” he noted.

Kremlin Adds Conditions to Energy Truce

Peskov said Russia would remain in contact with the United States over Trump’s proposal but argued that an energy truce alone would not resolve the factors affecting global fuel prices.

“It is ​necessary to ensure safe commercial shipping and navigation here, including for oil tankers. The Kyiv regime has ​so far shown no inclination to guarantee such security,” Peskov said.

He also linked the proposal to sanctions relief, saying restrictions on Russian energy supplies would need to be removed.

“And the second thing that needs to be done is, of course, to lift sanctions (against Russia) and these unlawful restrictions on energy supplies. Only then will the world be ​adequately supplied with these petroleum products, global markets will stabilize, and prices will move lower.”

Russia has sought sanctions relief as part of negotiations over arrangements involving energy and maritime security. The issue has remained a major point of disagreement in U.S.-brokered efforts to secure limited ceasefires between Russia and Ukraine.

Russia, Ukraine Continue Energy Strikes

The gap between Trump’s announcement and the positions expressed by Moscow and Kyiv was underscored by events on Sept. 15.

Russia launched a large overnight drone attack on Ukraine, damaging petrol stations in Kyiv and energy and port infrastructure elsewhere, according to Ukrainian officials, and two people were killed, according to Reuters.

Ukraine struck a Russian oil refinery in the Samara region and other facilities, according to Zelenskyy. The developments indicated that the proposed halt had not yet translated into a cessation of attacks on energy-related targets.

Russia has targeted Ukrainian energy infrastructure repeatedly since its full-scale invasion in 2022. Ukraine has targeted Russian oil refineries and other energy facilities as part of its campaign against Russia’s war economy.

Sanctions Relief Remains a Key Russian Demand

Moscow’s push for sanctions relief is consistent with its broader position in previous ceasefire discussions.

Following earlier U.S.-brokered talks, Russia linked implementation of proposed arrangements involving the Black Sea and energy infrastructure to measures easing restrictions on Russian financial institutions and energy-related trade.

The sanctions issue has complicated efforts to reach common statements between Russia and Ukraine. Moscow has sought the removal or relaxation of restrictions, while Kyiv and its Western allies have generally treated sanctions as leverage tied to Russia’s conduct in the war.

The United States has also examined possible options for sanctions relief as part of diplomatic efforts with Moscow, and such measures would represent a significant element of a broader settlement rather than an automatic consequence of an energy ceasefire.

Energy Attacks and Global Fuel Markets

Ukrainian attacks on Russian oil facilities have contributed to fuel shortages inside Russia, while Moscow’s attacks on Ukrainian energy infrastructure have damaged power and heating networks. Russia has also imposed restrictions on some fuel exports as it seeks to protect domestic supplies.

Trump has argued that the Russia-Ukraine conflict is contributing to higher global diesel prices and has pressed Kyiv to stop attacks on Russian fuel infrastructure.

The Kremlin has attributed broader instability in global energy markets largely to the conflict in the Persian Gulf. Russia has also pointed to disruptions affecting shipping through the region.

Broader Ceasefire Remains Unresolved

The energy truce that has been proposed is less comprehensive than a complete ceasefire or a peace agreement.

Ukraine wishes to reach a reliable and long-term agreement which will halt Russian attacks on its critical infrastructure while at the same time ending the Ukrainian strikes in reply. Zelenskyy has connected his capital’s involvement with credible assurances that Moscow would comply.

Peskov’s remarks show that an energy arrangement is being looked at together with other matters, such as maritime security and sanctions.

The first test will be whether Moscow and Kyiv will be able to turn Trump’s announcement into a verifiable agreement on the ground; on Sept. 15, attacks against energy-related facilities were still going on in both cases, and Washington, Moscow and Kyiv were still in disagreement about the terms and extent of any possible truce.