Russia threatens to abandon energy strike moratorium over Ukrainian attacks

Russia recently expressed its intention to reserve the right to withdraw from a moratorium on mutual strikes against Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, announced on March 25, 2025. The moratorium, brokered by the United States, aimed to curb hostilities and pave the way for a potential ceasefire and peace negotiations that would bring an end to the ongoing conflict. However, the situation escalated as both nations accused each other of attacking critical energy facilities, notably with reports of an assault on a Russian gas metering station in Kursk on March 28. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated that Moscow’s patience regarding the moratorium was dwindling. He indicated that if Ukraine continued to attack Russia's energy infrastructure, it would be illogical for Russia to adhere to the moratorium. For the time being, he affirmed that Russia would respect the current agreement, while emphasizing that Ukraine had also accused Russia of violating it. Additionally, there seems to be a growing concern within Russia regarding nationalist forces in Ukraine, which President Vladimir Putin suggested could lead to a temporary administration in Ukraine to facilitate new elections and a potential resolution to the conflict. This proposal has faced severe criticism from Kyiv, which perceives it as an unacceptable interference. Peskov clarified that Putin had not discussed this idea in communication with U.S. President Donald Trump, suggesting internal apprehensions over Ukraine's stability and governance may be a catalyst for such proposals.