Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky says he sees a potential opportunity for a reduction in hostilities with Russia during the winter, arguing that Russian President Vladimir Putin does not want to risk angering U.S. President Donald Trump.
Speaking to Axios, Zelensky said Russia had conveyed to Trump’s envoys that Moscow was prepared to resume negotiations over the war in Ukraine.
Zelensky said the assessment was based on information provided to him by U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, who traveled to Moscow and Kyiv over the weekend to meet with Putin and Zelensky.
“President Vladimir Putin needs Trump and does not want to anger him,” Zelensky said, adding that this could create space for a potential de-escalation.
According to Axios, one of Washington’s objectives is to secure a reduction in hostilities before or during the winter as part of efforts to advance the peace process.
Zelensky said discussions are focused on several areas that could potentially serve as a basis for reducing tensions, including energy infrastructure, grain exports, electricity, oil and gas.
Infrastructure linked to these sectors has increasingly become a target of attacks by both sides in recent months.
Russian forces have repeatedly targeted Ukraine’s energy infrastructure during winter campaigns, leaving millions of Ukrainians facing disruptions to electricity and heating. Russia has also recently targeted maritime traffic in the Black Sea, a key route for Ukrainian grain exports.
Ukraine, meanwhile, has intensified attacks on Russian oil refineries and oil and gas terminals since the beginning of the year, contributing to fuel shortages in parts of Russia and complicating Moscow’s hydrocarbon exports.
Zelensky’s comments come as Washington seeks to maintain diplomatic momentum following contacts between senior U.S. officials and the leaders of Russia and Ukraine.
The possibility of a winter de-escalation remains uncertain, however, with both sides continuing military operations and pursuing attacks against strategic infrastructure.
For now, Zelensky’s assessment suggests that Washington may be seeking limited agreements on energy, food exports and other critical infrastructure as a possible first step toward broader negotiations over the war.
