The Kremlin on Wednesday dismissed a recent report by the Financial Times claiming that Russian and Ukrainian officials are discussing a potential pause on strikes on each other’s energy infrastructure.
“There’s a lot of fake news nowadays, and it has nothing to do with reality,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters when asked to comment on the report. “Even the most reputable publications don’t shy away from this.”
FT reported Tuesday that Ukraine and Russia are in talks about halting strikes on energy sites. The discussions, mediated by Qatar, mark a resumption of previous de-escalation efforts that were abandoned after Kyiv launched its incursion into the Kursk region, according to sources cited by the newspaper.
However, a former senior Kremlin official told FT that President Vladimir Putin is unlikely to agree on any deal as long as Ukrainian troops “are trampling the land in Kursk.”
Nevertheless, according to an unnamed Ukrainian official, Russian and Ukrainian intelligence agencies allegedly reached an understanding to reduce the frequency of attacks on each other’s energy infrastructure in recent weeks.
This summer, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zleneksy said Russian attacks had destroyed half of Ukraine’s electricity generation capacity since the winter.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
