U.S., Ukraine may propose ‘energy truce’ at UAE talks, report says
Damaged Ukrainian CHP (combined heat and power) plant (Photo: REUTERS/Roman Baluk)
The United States and Ukraine could propose a pause in
Russian strikes on the Ukrainian energy infrastructure in exchange for Kyiv
suspending attacks on Russia’s oil industry, the Financial Times reported
on Jan. 22, citing informed sources.
The “energy truce” was previously discussed by Ukrainian and U.S. officials and will likely be put forward at the upcoming trilateral talks with Moscow in Abu Dhabi, UAE.
“The talks with Russia on the proposal are not at an advanced stage, one of the people [sources] said, adding that [Russian dictator Vladimir] Putin was unlikely to agree because he sees the pressure on Ukrainian energy infrastructure as important leverage,” the FT notes.
The United States pushed for the trilateral meeting, which is scheduled for Jan.23–24. Russia has not yet confirmed its participation, and both U.S. and Ukrainian officials are awaiting a response, the report said, quoting Ukraine’s presidential office.
U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff departed from Davos on Jan. 22 for a meeting with Putin in Moscow to discuss the proposal. Witkoff told reporters that they would head “right to to Abu Dhabi” after the Moscow talks to “start working group” negotiations.
According to the report, Ukraine’s broader negotiations with the United States have focused largely on territorial concessions that Russia demands as a precondition for any settlement.
An unnamed Ukrainian official also said Kyiv is hesitant to pursue an energy-only ceasefire, noting that its long-range drone campaign against Russian oil and gas facilities “has delivered results” in disrupting the Kremlin’s war effort.
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