The Kremlin said it had not seen a concrete proposal after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy suggested an Easter truce to halt energy-targeted strikes, and signalled it prefers talks toward a comprehensive peace deal. Zelenskiy said allies had signalled Kyiv might scale back long-range strikes on Russia’s oil sector if Russia stopped attacking Ukraine’s energy network. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov expressed scepticism, citing recent strikes on the Baltic port of Ust-Luga and warning delays would increase Kyiv’s cost of peace.
Kremlin Dismisses Zelenskiy’s Easter Truce Offer on Energy Attacks, Calls for Broader Peace Talks
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy speaks during an interview with Reuters, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kyiv, Ukraine March 25, 2026. REUTERS/Valentyn Ogirenko
The Kremlin on Tuesday expressed scepticism toward Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy’s proposal for an Easter truce focused on halting attacks on energy infrastructure, saying it had not received a detailed plan and preferred negotiations aimed at a comprehensive peace agreement.
What Zelenskiy Proposed
Zelenskiy said some of Ukraine’s allies had sent Kyiv "signals" that Ukraine could consider scaling back long-range strikes on Russia’s oil sector if Moscow stopped targeting Ukraine’s energy systems. He added that Kyiv would be prepared to reciprocate and that Ukraine was open to an Easter ceasefire.
Kremlin Response
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov voiced scepticism, saying reporters that Moscow had not seen any "clearly formulated initiative" in Zelenskiy’s statements. Peskov also pointed to recent strikes on the Baltic Sea port of Ust-Luga as evidence that Moscow remained unconvinced a truce focused only on energy targets would hold.
"Zelenskiy must take responsibility and make the appropriate decision so that we achieve peace, not merely a ceasefire," Peskov told reporters, warning that delays would raise the cost of any eventual peace for Kyiv.
The comments underline a gap between Kyiv’s tactical offer and Moscow’s insistence on a broader political settlement. The proposal comes amid rising global energy prices and repeated strikes on energy-related infrastructure on both sides.
Reporting by Dmitry Antonov; Writing by Lucy Papachristou; Editing by Andrew Osborn (Reuters)
Help us improve.
