Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy dismissed Russian President Vladimir Putin’s claim that he had ordered a stop to strikes on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, calling it contradictory to reality after a night of heavy drone attacks.
Zelenskyy Questions Putin’s Intentions
Speaking at a press conference in Helsinki alongside Finnish President Alexander Stubb, Zelenskyy pointed out that despite Putin’s assurances, Russian forces launched a massive drone assault on Ukrainian infrastructure.
“Even last night, after Putin’s conversation with… Trump, when Putin said that he was allegedly giving orders to stop strikes on Ukrainian energy, there were 150 drones launched overnight, including on energy facilities,” he stated.
Russia and Ukraine Trade Accusations
Russia, on the other hand, claimed it had ceased targeting Ukraine’s energy facilities and instead accused Kyiv of attacking infrastructure near one of its pipelines.
“Unfortunately, we see that for now there is no reciprocity on the part of the Kyiv regime,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.
The Russian strikes, which hit civilian areas and damaged a hospital, followed Putin’s refusal to back a 30-day ceasefire proposal during discussions with former U.S. President Donald Trump.
Mixed Reactions to Trump-Putin Talks
The White House described Trump’s call with Putin as a “movement to peace”, with hopes it could lead to a Black Sea maritime ceasefire and potentially an end to the war.
However, there was no indication that Putin was willing to compromise on key conditions that Kyiv has strongly opposed.
‘No Buts, No Conditions’ – Stubb
Finnish President Alexander Stubb welcomed the Trump-Putin discussions but insisted that Russia must take clear steps to end aggression.
“There are only two ways to respond to the proposal of the president of the United States,” Stubb said. “It’s a yes or a no — no buts, no conditions.”
He emphasized that Ukraine had already accepted a ceasefire without preconditions, and if Russia refuses, the international community must intensify efforts to strengthen Ukraine and increase pressure on Moscow.
Continued Hostilities Despite Ceasefire Talks
Shortly after Trump’s conversation with Putin, air raid sirens blared in Kyiv, signaling new attacks.
The Russian Defense Ministry claimed its military followed Putin’s order to halt strikes, but seven drones that had been launched before the order hit military-related power facilities in Mykolaiv.
Meanwhile, Moscow accused Ukraine of attacking an energy facility in Russia’s Krasnodar region, near Crimea, just hours after Putin and Trump spoke. The alleged drone attack reportedly hit oil transfer equipment for the Caspian Pipeline Consortium, causing a fire and pressure drop in one of the tanks.
“It is absolutely clear that we are talking about yet another provocation deliberately concocted by the Kyiv regime, aimed at derailing the peace initiatives of the US president,” Russia’s Defense Ministry stated.
Zelenskyy: Ceasefire Must Be Backed by Actions
Zelenskyy reiterated that Ukraine would not strike Russian energy facilities if Moscow truly halted its attacks.
“If the Russians don’t hit our facilities, we definitely won’t hit theirs,” he said.
He also stressed that territorial concessions remain a major obstacle in peace talks.
“For us, the red line is the recognition of the Ukrainian temporarily occupied territories as Russian,” he said. “We will not go for it.”
Prisoner Exchange Between Ukraine and Russia
Meanwhile, a prisoner swap took place on Wednesday, with 175 Russian soldiers repatriated from Ukrainian-controlled territory.
Russia’s Ministry of Defense announced on Telegram that the freed soldiers would be taken to Russia for medical treatment and rehabilitation at military facilities.
In exchange, Ukraine received 175 prisoners of war, including 22 soldiers in critical condition needing urgent medical care.
The United Arab Emirates was acknowledged for mediating the exchange on humanitarian grounds, ensuring the return of Russian soldiers from captivity.
