Rubio says Ukraine and Russia have shown interest in limited ceasefire on grain and energy

New York, United States. Ukraine and Russia have both expressed interest in a limited ceasefire involving grain and energy-related targets, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Wednesday after meeting Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. Rubio cautioned that such an arrangement would not be easy.

Energy and shipping proposals

Ukraine and its allies have called for a moratorium on attacks against energy infrastructure and guarantees for Black Sea shipping, amid concern that Russia could target power and heating facilities this winter.

Russia has given no public indication that it is ready to agree to such arrangements. It was not immediately clear whether Rubio was suggesting that his talks with Lavrov had produced any movement. Rubio said energy strikes were central to both countries’ tactical priorities in the war, now in its fifth year.

Lavrov rejects a pause

Speaking to the 15-member UN Security Council on the sidelines of the annual gathering of world leaders, Lavrov indicated that Moscow would not accept a temporary halt to hostilities. He said Europe wanted a pause to supply Kyiv with more weapons.

The top diplomats of Britain, France and Denmark condemned Russia’s war in their speeches, warning of dangerous escalation and a rise in civilian deaths this summer.

Zelenskiy discusses possible truces

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, who was expected to address the UN General Assembly later on Wednesday, said he had discussed a ceasefire covering energy-related targets with US President Donald Trump on Tuesday.

At a Crimean Platform summit on the UN gathering’s sidelines, Zelenskiy told leaders that Kyiv was ready for a maritime truce in the Black Sea based on proposals such as those put forward by Egypt, India and Turkey.