Ukraine Says: Stop Hitting Our Power, and We'll Stop Hitting Yours
Ukraine is still ready to pause attacks on energy sites with Russia after a 40-minute meeting between Volodymyr Zelenskyy and U.S. President Donald Trump in New York on September 22, during the UN General Assembly.
The offer has a condition. Ukraine will stop hitting Russian energy sites if Russia stops hitting Ukraine's electricity, heating and water, according to Zelenskyy after the talks Al Jazeera. He spoke to reporters after meeting Trump and his team Reuters. The White House listed it as a bilateral meeting with the president of Ukraine on September 22, 2026.
Zelenskyy called the talks positive and productive. He said they discussed air defences, weapons that stop missiles and drones, and steps to end Russia's war against Ukraine. He said they did not discuss Ukraine stopping attacks on Russian oil on its own.
Trump said before the meeting that Ukraine's strikes on refineries would be discussed. Refineries turn crude oil into fuel like diesel. He said those strikes hurt Russia and diesel prices. He also said last week both sides had agreed to stop hitting each other's energy sites, but strikes started again almost at once.
Russia earlier welcomed a U.S. idea for an energy pause but wants it tied to fuel shipped by sea and sanctions, which are limits on trade and money. Moscow says any pause must include relief on those shipments and money rules.
Fighting went on during the talks. Russia and Ukraine launched new strikes while Trump and Zelenskyy met CBC. Zelenskyy warned on Telegram that Russia is preparing a new massive attack on Ukraine.
On September 15, Russia launched about 200 drones across Ukraine, Ukrainian officials said. On September 20, an attack forced the Moscow oil refinery to stop processing crude oil, Reuters reported citing industry sources. That plant processed about 230,000 barrels per day in 2024.
The idea follows earlier peace efforts. Zelenskyy called in May 2025 for a full ceasefire, meaning all fighting stops, to start May 12. He warned rejection would bring sanctions on Russian energy and banks. He often says Ukraine backs U.S. plans. He repeated this after meeting Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio in May 2025 and Trump in The Hague in June 2025. In June he also urged G7 countries and the EU's 18th sanctions package to tighten rules on Russian banking and energy.
The broader context here is winter and trust. A pause on energy alone would keep heat and lights on in Ukraine and ease pressure on Russia's fuel. It would be like two neighbors agreeing not to cut power lines in winter while still in dispute. In my view, past quick failures, the new strikes, and Russia's demand on ships and sanctions are why experts see this as a test, not a final deal. Air defences, what is hit next, and whether Washington can set up checks will shape what happens next.
