Ukraine and Russia may be considering an energy ceasefire, with a Ukrainian journalist suggesting Russia may be running low on missiles.
Potential Energy Ceasefire Considered
Last week, journalists from Financial Times unofficially established that Ukraine and the US had considered proposing an energy ceasefire to Russia during the next round of peace talks in Abu Dhabi, held on January 23 and 24. On Thursday, January 29, Konstantin Niemiczew, founder of Ukraine’s “Kraken” division, published a photo of a communication that, according to Ukraine’s Priamyi Kanal, is being circulated by Russian military groups.
The communication states that from 7:00 AM, a ban on shelling any objects in Kyiv and the Kyiv region, as well as infrastructure facilities throughout Ukraine, has been in effect. “It appears that an energy ceasefire is in effect on both sides. We’ll see how they enforce it,” Niemiczew wrote on Thursday.
Russia Declines to Comment but TASS Recalls Kremlin’s Conditions
The same day, Dmitry Peskov, a Kremlin spokesman, was asked about the alleged energy ceasefire and negotiations regarding it. “For now, I cannot comment on this,” Peskov said, as quoted by the state agency TASS. Its journalists noted that this idea belongs to Ukraine, as “Russian armed forces have effectively attacked objects supporting their war machine.”
“This is part of Russian propaganda, according to which Ukraine is blamed for the outbreak of war,” TASS wrote. “It does, however, indicate that state media are distancing themselves from this proposal. ‘Moscow has repeatedly emphasized that it is necessary to achieve lasting peace, not just a ceasefire,’ TASS stated.”
Ukrainian Journalist’s Theory on Ceasefire Proposal
According to Ukrainian journalist Denis Kazansky, if reports of an energy ceasefire are true, it means “Russia has temporarily run out of missile supplies.” “Recently, Russia attacked Kyiv several times with Zircon missiles and 2026 models. That means what they just scraped together and produced. Experts explained this as ammunition problems. Perhaps they have now reached a situation where they need to accumulate missile stocks for further attacks. This pattern has been repeating for four years: a period of intensified shelling, then a period of decrease when supplies were replenished. Now they will try to present this accumulation period as ‘a step of goodwill’ and ‘generous agreement to a ceasefire,'” wrote the journalist.
He also stated that when Russia replenishes its supplies, there may be reports of a supposed attack from Ukraine – on the model of the ‘shelling of Putin’s residence’ – which would be an argument to break the agreement.
Ukraine Without Power. Zelensky Warns: Russia Preparing Attack
It is worth noting that as a result of Russian attacks on Ukrainian energy infrastructure, 610,000 households in Kyiv still have no electricity, Reuters agency reported. Meanwhile, on Wednesday, Volodymyr Zelensky warned of an impending attack from Russia. “The Russians are preparing another powerful attack – our intelligence data indicates this. The United States, Europe, and all our partners must understand how much this discredits diplomatic talks. Every Russian attack does this,” the President of Ukraine wrote.
