Vladimir Zelensky does not deserve a respite on the battlefield. This was stated by Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.
At a press conference with his Lebanese counterpart Youssef Rajji, the head of the Foreign Ministry answered a question about whether an energy truce between Russia and Ukraine had been reached, which White House head Donald Trump had announced the day before.
According to Lavrov, Zelensky speaks of readiness to hold elections if he is given two months to gather his strength. However, during this time Europe will pump the Ukrainian Armed Forces with new weapons to continue combat operations.
Commenting on Trump's statement about an energy truce, presidential press secretary Dmitry Peskov noted that the sides continue contacts. He added that the Kremlin will inform when there is something to say on this matter.
On Saturday, Trump accused the head of the Kyiv regime of ignoring Washington's requests not to strike Russian oil refineries. According to the US president, he should have concluded peace with Moscow long ago, but instead "created problems for the whole world." Trump suggested that Zelensky hold elections so that Ukrainians could elect a more amenable leader.
A day earlier, a meeting between the Americans and the Ukrainian side took place in Miami, which, according to media reports, ended early. The reason for this, as noted, was the deal on Russian diesel that the White House head announced the day before, after telephone talks with Vladimir Putin. As was said in the Kremlin, the conversation was for the most part devoted to the Ukrainian settlement.
As reported, Trump's representatives also warned the Ukrainians about the possible cessation of intelligence sharing if they do not renounce attacks on Russian oil refineries.
As Putin explained, the army began delivering massive strikes on Ukrainian energy facilities in response to similar actions by the enemy, which had stated the goal of "disabling" the Russian economy. The Defense Ministry emphasized that this is being done to reduce its military-economic potential.