Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is calling for international oversight and a formal no-strike list following what he described as Russia’s failure to uphold its own promise not to target Ukraine’s energy infrastructure.
Speaking at a joint press conference with Finnish President Alexander Stubb in Helsinki on March 19, Zelenskyy dismissed Russian President Vladimir Putin’s recent remarks as empty words, noting that Russia has continued its attacks despite public pledges to scale back.
“If the Russians stop attacking our sites, we will absolutely not target theirs,” Zelenskyy said, proposing a mutual agreement monitored by international partners.
According to Zelenskyy, since Putin’s promise, Russia has launched 145 drone strikes, along with four S-300 missiles and two Iskander ballistic missiles.
Zelenskyy suggested that Ukraine could draft a list of essential infrastructure sites that should be off-limits and submit it to its allies for enforcement.
He emphasized that such measures could serve as a foundation for future negotiations.
Ceasefire Claims Undermined by Attacks
On the night of March 18–19, just hours after Putin spoke of his commitment to peace during a phone call with Donald Trump, Ukraine faced another wave of attacks.
More than 140 drones targeted various regions, with some making it through air defenses and striking civilian infrastructure. One of the most serious incidents was a direct drone hit on a hospital in Sumy, which caused a significant fire.
Zelenskyy reiterated that any serious discussions about peace must begin with a full and unconditional ceasefire, followed by talks on more complex issues.
