Russia claims pause in energy strikes as Ukraine-Russia tensions rise over ceasefire violations
The Russia-Ukraine war saw a fresh development as the Kremlin announced it had halted a planned drone attack targeting Ukrainian energy infrastructure, following a high-level phone call between President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump.
According to Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov, Russia not only suspended the strike but also took the unusual step of shooting down its own drones mid-air. He stated that seven drones were destroyed, with six intercepted by Pantsir missile systems and one taken down by a Russian military aircraft.
The decision comes after Putin agreed to a temporary pause on attacks against Ukraine’s energy facilities. However, he stopped short of accepting a broader 30-day ceasefire proposal pushed by the United States.
Despite this announcement, Ukraine accused Russia of continuing to strike its energy infrastructure overnight, raising doubts about the credibility of the pause.
In response, Peskov countered that Ukraine had violated the agreement, claiming Kyiv attempted to target Russian energy sites, including a reported drone attack on an oil depot in southern Russia. He criticized the lack of “reciprocity” from Ukraine and emphasized that Moscow is closely monitoring whether Kyiv will honor commitments toward a peaceful settlement.
“The president has not given any other orders,” Peskov said, suggesting that Russia intends to maintain the suspension unless circumstances change.
The situation highlights the fragile nature of ceasefire efforts in the ongoing conflict, where mutual accusations and mistrust continue to undermine progress toward de-escalation.
Source: Reuters