Zelensky Says He Is Ready for Energy-Site Moratorium, but Kremlin Stays Silent

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has said he is prepared to accept a "moratorium" on strikes against energy infrastructure, provided Russia agrees to the same terms, according to remarks relayed to US President Donald Trump. The statement came shortly after French President Emmanuel Macron used his address to the United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday, September 22, to call for a "double moratorium" halting attacks on energy sites in both Russia and Ukraine.

Macron's appeal was framed as a way to reduce civilian suffering and stabilize the broader conflict, which has repeatedly targeted power plants, refineries and grid infrastructure on both sides since Russia's full-scale invasion began. Zelensky's response signaled a degree of openness to de-escalation on this narrower front, even as fighting continues elsewhere along the front line.

The Kremlin has not publicly responded to the proposal, and experts cited in the reporting say there is little likelihood Moscow will agree to halt such strikes. Russian forces have used attacks on Ukrainian energy infrastructure as a recurring tactic, particularly ahead of winter, while Ukrainian forces have in turn targeted Russian oil and gas facilities.

The exchange took place amid high-level diplomacy at the UN General Assembly, where Trump has been engaging both Kyiv and Moscow in an effort to find a path toward ending the war, including in-person discussions with Zelensky. Trump has previously voiced frustration at the slow pace of negotiations and the continued escalation of aerial strikes by both sides.