War in Ukraine: Zelensky willing to consider energy ceasefire, Russia refuses

French President Emmanuel Macron pleaded on Tuesday 22 September at the UN General Assembly for a "double moratorium" on strikes targeting energy infrastructure in Russia and Ukraine, according to RFI.

Following this intervention, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky told Donald Trump that he was "ready" to stop strikes on Russian energy facilities, provided that Moscow does the same.

Moscow rejects the idea of a pause

But the next day, Russia rejected this proposal. According to RFI, Moscow said it did not envisage a "pause" in military operations targeting Ukrainian energy infrastructure.

This diplomatic sequence comes at a time when reciprocal strikes on energy sites are one of the most sensitive aspects of the conflict, as these facilities are essential to the supply of electricity and heating to the civilian population, especially as winter approaches.

Emmanuel Macron's proposal, formulated before all the leaders gathered in New York for the 81st session of the General Assembly, is part of a series of diplomatic initiatives aimed at limiting the humanitarian consequences of the conflict, without an agreement having yet been reached between the parties.