If Russia is ready to stop strikes on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, Ukraine will respond symmetrically, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in his evening address.
He made the statement while commenting on another wave of Russian attacks on Ukrainian territory.
Five strikes on the ports of Primorsk and Ust-Luga damaged terminals handling over 40% of Russia’s seaborne oil exports.
Long-range sanctions pressure as a strategic weapon
“We have repeatedly proposed Russia a ceasefire, even for Easter, for this special time of year. But for them, all times are the same. There is nothing sacred for them,” Zelenskyy emphasized.
According to him, Russia is not willing to move toward peace, so the world must continue applying pressure.
“Our long-range sanctions continue to work very effectively and significantly reduce Russia’s revenues, especially oil revenues,” he said.
Only substantial financial losses force Russia to consider an exit scenario from the war, he added.
Proposal via US: diplomatic channel remains open
“If Russia is ready to stop strikes on our energy sector, we will be ready to respond in kind. This proposal has been conveyed to the Russian side through the Americans," said Zelenskyy.
Earlier, reports said Ukraine began using new weapons against Russian infrastructure objects on occupied territories, which the invaders have turned into launchpads for their aggression.
Russian forces in temporarily occupied Donetsk Oblast are actively claiming that Ukrainian forces used drones equipped with “graphite bombs” the previous evening.
Such weapons were actively used in Iraq in 1990–1991, where they destroyed up to 85% of the energy system.
