Moscow refutes Washington Post report of a potential agreement to halt strikes on energy infrastructure
Metro Morning Report
MOSCOW: Russia has firmly denied allegations that Ukraine’s recent attack on the Kursk region disrupted indirect negotiations aimed at halting strikes on energy and power infrastructure. The claims, reported by The Washington Post, suggested that the planned delegations from Ukraine and Russia were set to meet in Qatar this month to discuss a partial ceasefire agreement but that these discussions were derailed by Ukraine’s incursion into Russian territory.
Maria Zakharova, spokesperson for Russia’s foreign ministry, rejected the notion of any such talks taking place. “No one broke anything off because there was nothing to break off,” Zakharova stated, emphasizing that there had been no direct or indirect negotiations regarding the safety of civilian infrastructure. She reinforced President Vladimir Putin’s position, asserting that any discussion about talks with Ukraine would be questioned in light of what he characterized as attacks on Russian civilian infrastructure.
In response to the Washington Post report, Ukraine’s government has yet to provide an official comment. The report indicated that the summit in Doha, initially planned for this month, was postponed due to the ongoing situation in the Middle East. It mentioned that the talks might be rescheduled for August 22 via video conference.
Both Russia and Ukraine have consistently accused each other of targeting civilian infrastructure, although both deny doing so intentionally. The conflict, which began with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 under the guise of a “special military operation,” has resulted in Russia controlling approximately 18 percent of Ukrainian territory.
The recent Ukrainian cross-border attack into the Kursk region on August 6 marks a significant escalation, being the first such military incursion into Russian territory since World War II. This development has further strained the already tense relations between the two nations and has complicated efforts to negotiate a ceasefire.
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