Zelenskyi outlines Ukraine's conditions for energy ceasefire and position on peace talks

26.10.2026, 10:41 rubryka.com

Energy ceasefire and trilateral talks

Zelenskyi described an energy ceasefire as a possible first step towards ending the war.

"An energy ceasefire as a first step. I believe this is a signal," the president said.

According to him, Ukraine is ready for trilateral talks at the technical-group level, with the aim of reaching concrete outcomes. The sides could work on a document outlining the end of the war, an agreement on an energy ceasefire, or the resumption of maritime shipping.

The president explained that Ukraine is ready to stop strikes on Russian oil refining infrastructure if Russia halts attacks on Ukraine's electricity infrastructure.

"If you want us not to strike diesel facilities and Russia's oil refining infrastructure, it's very simple. Then they must stop hitting our electricity infrastructure. And that is fair. An energy ceasefire. That is how it could work," Zelenskyi said.

He added that he had proposed this approach to international partners. According to the president, Ukraine responds to Russian strikes on energy infrastructure because Russia must also feel the consequences of its attacks.

What terms Ukraine is not prepared to accept

At the same time, Zelenskyi said Ukraine would not agree to limits on the size of its army or to neutral status as part of any potential peace agreement.

"The key aspects are that we cannot talk about our country's neutrality. And we must not — our position, which broadly aligns with the American one — talk about limiting the Ukrainian army," the president said.

He also stressed that Russia cannot dictate Ukraine's security guarantees and that territorial issues must be discussed exclusively at the leaders' level.

"So the conclusions are clear: restrictions on our army and Ukraine's neutrality are not up for discussion. Territorial issues are a red line that can be discussed exclusively at the leaders' level," Zelenskyi said.

Zelenskyi urges against lifting sanctions before the war ends

Zelenskyi also opposed lifting sanctions on Russia before the war has actually ended. He stressed that the restrictions were imposed in response to Russian aggression, not to create conditions for negotiations.

"I would like to tell the Americans that I would not want us to approach a meeting of the three leaders — the leaders of Ukraine, the US, and Russia — having lifted all sanctions on Russia beforehand. This is an important point. Sanctions were imposed because of aggression, not to make it possible to have a chat," Zelenskyi said.

According to him, any agreement to end the war must include a clear sequence for lifting sanctions. He recalled that the restrictions were imposed because Russia crossed Ukraine's borders, illegally occupied its territory, and killed people.

The president warned that lifting sanctions prematurely could make it harder to reimpose them if Russia failed to honour its commitments.

"I have a feeling, and I have lived with it for quite a long time, that when we talk about Russia's willingness to cooperate, we should not buy it at such a price. In my view, if you enter a trilateral format with sanctions already lifted, you could end up in a situation where nothing is clear — what happens next? But the sanctions have already been lifted. Who will have the strength we had at the beginning of the war to reimpose them all and unite people around that effort, so that there are more than 20 packages worldwide? That is why I am very cautious about this," the president said.

At the same time, Zelenskyi confirmed that he was ready for a trilateral meeting between the leaders of Ukraine, the US, and Russia. According to him, it could take place in Florida during the G20 summit.

The president also said he currently sees no requests from major European countries to lift sanctions on Russia and restore energy ties with it.

"I do not yet see any requests from major, serious European countries to lift sanctions and restore energy alliances with the Russian Federation. I do not see them, because we would respond. I would certainly respond," Zelenskyi said.

However, he noted that some European countries remain dependent on Russian oil and gas supplies.

"Unfortunately, there is pressure from Europe to keep everyone in the EU together and, somehow, accommodate these countries," the president said.

Zelenskyi recalled that European Union had decided to phase out its main energy contracts with Russia by the end of 2027. According to him, US suppliers are replacing Russian energy resources on the market.

"Americans are replacing the Russians anyway; their supplies are available across the market. We can see their presence. Europe stands with us; Europe is united," the president stressed.

Ukraine, the US, the EU, and NATO prepare for a meeting in Brussels

Zelenskyi said a security meeting involving representatives of Ukraine, the US, the European Union, and NATO was planned for Brussels this week. The sides are expected to discuss initiatives to end the war, security guarantees, and Ukraine's cooperation with the EU.

The president recalled that last Tuesday, he held talks in Oslo with US President's Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, joined by Finnish President Alexander Stubb and Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre.

Further talks took place in a broader format, with security advisers to the leaders of the UK, France, and Italy, as well as Björn Seibert, head of European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen's cabinet, taking part.

After receiving Witkoff's briefing on his talks with Russian leader Vladimir Putin in St Petersburg, European partners began preparing a new meeting.

According to Zelenskyi, this time the discussions are expected to cover not only the outcome of the US special envoy's talks with Russia but also security, guarantees for Ukraine, and its cooperation with the European Union.

"Now they want more than a briefing — they want a broader discussion about security, guarantees, and the EU. They want a meeting in Brussels this week, with the US, Ukraine, and the EU represented at the presidential level, and NATO at the secretary-general level. I do not know whether anyone else will join this group in Brussels, since NATO and the European Union are both headquartered there. We are planning this meeting for Tuesday or Wednesday," the president said.

Earlier, the Kremlin said European countries' positions could play a decisive role in negotiations to end Russia's war against Ukraine. Russian leader's aide Yuri Ushakov explained this by claiming that the US had failed to secure concessions from Kyiv.