If Russia does not attack Ukrainian energy, Ukraine will respond in kind, Head of State Volodymyr Zelensky said during a conversation with journalists.
Points of attention
- President Zelenskyy informs that there was no direct negotiation between Ukraine and Russia concerning an energy truce.
- Ukraine is prepared to reciprocate in response to any aggressive energy actions by Russia, following a mirror-like attitude.
- The concept of an energy truce was introduced by the American side and President Zelenskyy views it as a possibility, not an official agreement yet.
We do not have a ceasefire with Russia — Zelenskyy
Answering the question of whether an energy truce has been established for the coming week, Zelenskyy replied that this topic was raised during the negotiations in Abu Dhabi on January 23-24 by the American side:
If Russia heard the signal from the American side the same way we heard it, then we will definitely have some result and will be able to evaluate it. There are no secrets here. There was no direct dialogue, no direct agreements on this between us and Russia.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy
President of Ukraine
The President emphasized that the idea of an energy truce is an initiative of the American side and personally of the President of the United States.
And we can consider this a possibility, not an agreement. And whether it will work or not, and what will work, I can't tell you yet. We don't have a ceasefire. We don't have an official agreement on a ceasefire, as people agree during these or other possible negotiations.
He added that Ukraine will "adhere to a mirror-like attitude towards such steps."
If Russia doesn't attack our energy, whether it's generating or whatever, we won't attack their energy. I think this is the answer that the mediator of the negotiations, namely the United States of America, was counting on.
He emphasized that "in any case, we want to end the war and we are ready for de-escalation steps."
If Russia does not attack us, we will not take appropriate steps.
