Ukraine and Russia are conducting preliminary negotiations about stopping attacks on each other’s energy infrastructure, the Financial Times reports, citing sources familiar with the matter.
The timing is crucial as winter approaches, with Ukraine facing significant challenges after Russian missile strikes destroyed nearly half of its energy capacity. Ukraine now relies heavily on nuclear power and energy imports from European partners.
According to FT, Kyiv sought to revive Qatar-mediated talks that nearly reached an agreement in August before being derailed by Ukraine’s incursion near Kursk.
“There are very early conversations about potentially restarting something. The conversations now are about energy facilities,” a diplomat familiar with the negotiations told FT.
A senior Ukrainian official told the FT that both sides have already reduced the frequency of attacks on energy infrastructure in recent weeks under an arrangement between their intelligence services.
A former senior Kremlin official familiar with the talks indicated that Putin is unlikely to agree to a deal while Ukrainian forces remain in control of approximately 600 square kilometers of territory in the Kursk Oblast.
According to a senior Ukrainian official, Ukraine plans to continue striking targets, including oil refineries, to maintain pressure on Russia during negotiations.
They added that beyond Kyiv’s long-range strike capabilities targeting energy and military facilities in Russia, “we don’t have many leverage points to [force Russians] to negotiate.”
The Qatari mediation began in June after Zelenskyy held a peace summit in Switzerland, to which Russia was not invited.
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