Emmanuel Macron, the President of France, called for a halt to strikes in the energy sector between Ukraine and Russia on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York. This request was made following his meeting with Donald Trump, the President of the United States. Macron announced on Twitter that they discussed efforts to secure a ceasefire against attacks on energy infrastructure.
Discussions with Zelensky
Macron also continued the same day with discussions with Volodymyr Zelensky, the President of Ukraine, about the possibility of establishing an energy ceasefire. These moves by Macron come as Trump has pressured Zelensky to end Kyiv's attacks on Russia's energy sector. Trump stated on September 13, "Mr. Zelensky needs to do something. He needs to stop the attacks on diesel fuel in Russia."
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Ukraine's Response to Pressures
Despite these pressures, Ukraine has continued its attacks on Russia's energy infrastructure, leading to a fire at a major refinery in Samara, southwestern Russia, on Tuesday night. The Ukrainian Armed Forces announced that their attacks on Russian oil facilities have destroyed nearly half of the country's refining capacity since June. On the other hand, Moscow has repeatedly caused power outages in Ukraine through attacks on its energy sector.
Ukraine's Willingness to De-escalate
Zelensky stated on Monday that Kyiv is seeking a "mutual de-escalation" in energy and critical infrastructure. He is scheduled to meet with Trump on Tuesday at 1:15 PM local time. This meeting could have significant implications for energy relations between the two countries and help stabilize global energy markets.
