Zelenskyy Offers to Pause Strikes on Russia for Ceasefire — SkimNews

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- Zelenskyy said Ukraine is ready to halt strikes on Russian territory if allies secure a genuine Russian commitment not to hit Ukrainian critical infrastructure, including energy facilities, ports, logistics, and food and pharmaceutical warehouses.
- Trump claimed in a social media post that Russia and Ukraine had agreed "not to hit" each other's energy infrastructure without offering details, and Russia did not immediately comment on the claim.
- Trump separately urged Zelenskyy to stop targeting Russian oil refineries and other diesel-producing infrastructure, saying the attacks are causing a global diesel shortage that has become a major issue for his party ahead of upcoming congressional elections.
- Trump attributed the rise in global diesel prices "mostly" to the Russia-Ukraine war rather than Iran, though the source notes that restricted shipments from a Strait of Hormuz slowdown and damaged Russian refining systems are also straining energy markets.
- Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said any call on Kyiv to stop strikes on civilian economic infrastructure "can only be welcomed," following Trump's Sunday request to Zelenskyy.
- Previous ceasefire efforts have repeatedly fallen apart within hours, with both sides accusing each other of violations, the source notes.
Why it matters: The conditional ceasefire highlights Trump's public pressure on Zelenskyy over Russian oil-refinery strikes, which Trump ties to surging U.S. diesel prices hurting his party's congressional prospects. The source notes energy strain comes from both the Russia-Ukraine war and Strait of Hormuz slowdowns, so even a successful ceasefire would address only one of the two price drivers Trump blames.
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