Key developments on March 28: * Russia intensifies assault in Zaporizhzhia, increasing pressure on Ukraine's southern positions, military says * Russia makes excuses to break ceasefire on energy infrastructure strikes * EU preparing 17th package of Russia sanctions, EUobserver reports * UK, French military officials to meet in Ukraine to discuss troop deployment Russia
After three days of separate intensive discussions with the United States, Russia and Ukraine left the latest round of ceasefire talks in Saudi Arabia with agreements to declare a limited ceasefire in the Black Sea and to halt strikes against energy facilities. While lauded by the White House as progress
Key developments on March 26: * Russia has struck Ukraine's energy sites 8 times since March 18, Zelensky's advisor says * Ukraine's list of energy facilities banned from attacks differs from Russian version, Energy Ministry says * Ukraine-US relations 'back on track,' Zelensky's chief of staff says * Russia's withdrawal from Ukraine condition
Ukrainian oil and gas production facilities — which, according to the Energy Ministry have suffered the most Russian attacks as of late — weren't on Kremlin's list, the Energy Ministry told European Pravda.
"It should be highlighted that the military department of the aggressor country is spreading false and groundless accusations in order to prolong the war, continue false propaganda and typical Russian attempts to deceive the world," Ukraine's General Staff said.
Ukraine has recorded eight confirmed hits against its energy facilities by Russian forces since March 18, when the Kremlin claimed to have ordered a pause on such attacks, presidential advisor Dmytro Lytvyn said on March 25.
Key developments on March 25: * Black Sea ceasefire will take effect after some sanctions are lifted, Kremlin claims * Kremlin names energy facilities exempt from strikes during partial ceasefire * Ukrainian airstrike kills up to 30 Russian soldiers in Kursk Oblast, military claims * Russia seeks full control of partially occupied Ukrainian regions
According to the Kremlin, the list includes oil refineries, as well as oil and gas pipelines and storage facilities, including pumping stations.
"We believe that, after Washington makes two official statements... the ceasefire in the sea and the energy ceasefire must come into effect, in (the Americans') opinion," Zelensky said. "Undoubtedly this depends on orders given by the presidents to their military forces."
"All parties agreed to implement the presidential agreement on a complete ban on strikes on the energy infrastructure of Ukraine and Russia," Defense Minister Rustem Umerov said.
"A stable energy supply is a condition for the functioning of the economy, critical infrastructure, social and other spheres of life in Ukraine," Deputy Energy Minister Roman Andarak said on March 22.
Key developments on March 19: * Zelensky agrees to halt strikes on Russian energy infrastructure during call with Trump * US ownership of Ukraine's power plants would be 'best protection' of energy infrastructure, White House says * Ukraine brings home 175 prisoners of war in swap with Russia * Ukrainian drone strike halts operations
President Donald Trump and President Volodymyr Zelensky held a phone call on March 19, during which Trump suggested American ownership of Ukraine's power plants could help ensure their security.
President Volodymyr Zelensky said he agreed to stop strikes on Russian energy infrastructure during a phone call with U.S. President Donald Trump on March 19.
"We will support such a proposal, but we're very interested in the details," Zelensky said, in reference to a proposed 30-day ceasefire on energy infrastructure attacks.
Iceland will allocate over 2 million euros ($2.17 million) to Ukraine's Energy Support Fund, the Ministry of Energy reported on March 11.
The weapons that Russia used against Ukraine this week contained more than 82,000 foreign components, President Volodymyr Zelensky said.
Ukraine's main gas production facilities are in front-line regions like Kharkiv and Poltava, making them vulnerable to Russian attacks. Strikes on gas infrastructure have repeatedly reduced production, at times by 40%.
Ukraine's air defense shot down 115 drones over Kharkiv, Sumy, Donetsk, Dnipropetrovsk, Mykolaiv, Poltava, Kyiv, Chernihiv, Odesa, and Cherkasy oblasts, the Air Force said.
Ukraine plans to import about 3.5 billion cubic meters of gas for the upcoming heating season due to ongoing Russian attacks on its energy infrastructure, Bloomberg reported on March 4.
Rome signed an agreement with Kyiv on Feb. 28 to provide Ukraine with 13 million euros ($13.5 million) directed towards the country's Energy Support Fund, Ukraine's Energy Ministry announced.
Key developments on Feb. 28: * Zelensky, Trump get into heated argument while speaking with journalists in Oval Office * US terminates support for Ukraine's energy grid restoration, NBC reports * Trump may halt all military aid to Ukraine following Oval Office clash, WP reports * Kremlin officials tout Zelensky-Trump clash as 'historic' * Italy
Losses from Russian attacks amount to "billions of dollars," according to Energy Minister Herman Halushchenko.
Russian strikes have repeatedly hit Ukraine’s gas infrastructure over the course of the war, reducing production by as much as 40% at certain periods following an attack.
"The purpose of these criminal attacks is to stop the production of gas needed to meet the household needs of citizens and centralized heating," Energy Minister Herman Halushchenko said.
Russian aerial strikes targeted an energy facility of Ukraine's DTEK company in Odesa Oblast overnight, the company announced. Governor Oleh Kiper said that 49,000 consumers remain without power as of 9 a.m. local time as repairs continue.
"This was done deliberately to leave people without heat in below-zero temperatures and create a humanitarian catastrophe," wrote Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal.
The attack, which included strikes on gas infrastructure overnight and continued into the morning, has further strained Ukraine's energy grid.
The European Union and NATO must strengthen cooperation to protect critical energy infrastructure from attacks, which pose a growing threat to European stability. The Kremlin, with its history of weaponizing energy, remains a prime suspect. NATO must properly secure the Baltic Sea — the so-called NATO lake. The Baltic states achieved
Ukraine is maintaining high levels of gas imports from the EU after a series of Russian missile attacks on its gas facilities, according to a Reuters report on Feb. 9.
Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia will disconnect from Russia’s power grid this weekend and synchronize with the Western European network.
"A nuclear accident can result from a direct attack on a plant, but also from power supply disruption," Director General Rafael Grossi said during his visit to Kyiv on Feb. 4.
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