President Zelensky Says Ceasefire On Energy Facilities Could Be Carried Out Soon

Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant. (Wikimedia Commons/Ralf1969)

JAKARTA - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Wednesday the halt to attacks on energy facilities in the war with Russia could be carried out immediately, but warned Ukraine would respond in the same way if Moscow violated the provisions of the limited ceasefire.

After speaking with US President Donald Trump on Wednesday for the first time since their failed talks in the Oval Room of the White House, President Zelensky said Kyiv would draw up a list of facilities that could be targeted by some of Washington's ceasefire.

The list could include not only energy, but also rail and port infrastructure, he said, a day after Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke with President Trump and agreed to halt attacks on energy infrastructure.

"I understand that until we agree (with Russia), until there are appropriate documents about the ceasefire in part, I think everything will fail," President Zelensky said referring to drones and missiles.

The Ukrainian leader described his phone call with President Trump as "possibly the most substantive and positive" talks so far, adding he did not feel pressured.

When asked at the briefing if he still wanted President Trump to visit Ukraine, President Zelensky said he wanted him and believed it would help the US President in his efforts to stop the war.

Separately, President Trump's envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff said another round of talks between Russian and US officials, aimed at a permanent ceasefire and ending the war, would take place in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on Sunday, but it was unclear whether Ukraine would engage in the talks.

President Zelensky said Ukrainian and US officials could meet next in Saudi Arabia on Friday, Saturday or Sunday to discuss technical details.

Ukrainian leaders say they want to understand how a partial ceasefire will be monitored, although he added it would work if the United States started doing so.

A statement by the administration of the US presidency said earlier, President Trump suggested to President Zelensky, the US could help run, and possibly own, nuclear power plants and Ukraine's energy infrastructure.

President Zelensky said he and President Trump only discussed Russia-occupied Zaporizhia nuclear power plants in southeastern Ukraine during their phone calls.

He added that he told President Trump that Kyiv was ready to discuss US involvement in modernizing and investing in nuclear power plants if they were returned to Ukraine.