Perhaps the most surprising diplomatic gambit came from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who proposed an “energy ceasefire” with Moscow. Ukraine has intensified strikes on Russian oil infrastructure in recent weeks, but Zelensky revealed that “some partners” had urged Kyiv to scale back those attacks amid the Middle East-driven oil crisis.
His offer: Ukraine will stop hitting Russian energy targets if Russia stops striking Ukrainian energy infrastructure. It’s a pragmatic move — Zelensky is positioning Ukraine as a responsible actor in a global energy emergency while potentially gaining relief for his own battered power grid. Whether Moscow will engage remains to be seen.