Zelensky: De-escalation steps with Russia must be mutual

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky responded to remarks by former U.S. President Donald Trump by stating that Ukraine is willing to halt attacks on Russian oil refineries, but only if Russia simultaneously stops targeting Ukrainian energy infrastructure. Zelensky made the statement via X (formerly Twitter), emphasizing that any de-escalation measure must be reciprocal. The comments come amid ongoing diplomatic pressure from Trump, who has pushed for a negotiated end to the war in Ukraine. Zelensky's position signals a conditional openness to reducing hostilities, though he stops short of agreeing to a broader ceasefire without equivalent concessions from Moscow. The exchange highlights the complex diplomatic dynamics surrounding efforts to wind down the nearly three-year conflict between Ukraine and Russia.