On Sunday, Russia rejected a report claiming that Ukraine’s recent attack on the Kursk region had disrupted indirect negotiations with Kyiv aimed at halting strikes on energy and power infrastructure. Russia’s foreign ministry spokesperson, Maria Zakharova, denied the Washington Post’s claim, asserting that no talks on civilian infrastructure had taken place.
The Washington Post reported on Saturday that Ukraine and Russia were scheduled to send delegations to Qatar this month to discuss a significant agreement to cease attacks on energy and power infrastructure on both sides. The report suggested that these talks, which would have represented a partial ceasefire, were abandoned following Ukraine’s attack on Russian territory.
Zakharova dismissed the report, stating, “No one broke anything off because there was nothing to break off.” She emphasized that there had been no direct or indirect negotiations between Russia and Ukraine regarding the safety of civilian infrastructure.
Ukraine’s government has not yet responded to a request for comment from Reuters. According to the Post, Ukraine’s presidential office indicated that the Doha summit had been postponed due to the Middle East situation and would now be held via video conference on August 22.
Both Russia and Ukraine have accused each other of targeting civilian infrastructure in the ongoing conflict, with both sides denying such allegations.
Zakharova also referenced President Vladimir Putin’s remarks from August 12, in which he questioned the possibility of negotiations following Ukraine’s attack on Russian territory and alleged attacks on Russian civilian infrastructure.
Russia launched a “special military operation” in Ukraine in February 2022 and currently controls approximately 18 percent of the country. The strike into the Kursk region on August 6 marked the first significant military incursion into Russian territory since World War II.
