Zelenskyy and Merz seek broader energy ceasefire

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and German leader Friedrich Merz are advocating for a broader energy ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine. They argue that the current ‘energy truce’ proposed by Donald Trump, which focuses on Russian oil refineries, is too limited. Instead, they seek a comprehensive ban on military strikes against both Russian refineries and Ukrainian power generation infrastructure.

Zelenskyy has expressed skepticism regarding Moscow's intentions, noting that Russia appears increasingly unwilling to accept the U.S. proposal. He reported that Russian forces recently attacked six energy facilities in Ukraine, resulting in 33 injuries. Zelenskyy suggested that Russia continues these strikes to secure higher revenues for its war efforts.

The push for a wider ceasefire comes amid tensions following a deal between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin, which involved lifting certain U.S. sanctions to allow Russian diesel into global markets. This development has caused friction between the U.S. administration and European allies, who are seeking more pressure on Russia's military-industrial complex.