Rubio says Russia, Ukraine express interest in limited energy ceasefire

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Wednesday that Russia and Ukraine have both expressed interest in a limited ceasefire covering energy and grain, saying Washington is open to helping facilitate such an agreement.

“Both sides have expressed an interest in some limited ceasefire that involved grain and energy,” Rubio told reporters on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York.

“It doesn't solve the war, but it does, I think, in some ways, potentially alleviate some of the global pressures that are being felt as a result of that,” he said.

Rubio said the energy issue is complicated because it means different things to Russia and Ukraine.

For Russia, energy strikes involve refineries and oil and gas facilities, while for Ukraine they involve attacks on the electrical grid, creating particular concerns ahead of winter, he said.

“Both sides have identified energy as a strategic objective of their war aims,” Rubio said, adding that Russian strikes on Ukraine's power grid have an immediate impact on civilian life, while attacks on Russia's energy sector affect a major source of revenue.

Rubio said the issue had been discussed in US contacts with both sides, including meetings in Moscow and Kyiv, as well as his conversation with Zelenskyy.

“We're always open to exploring” a limited ceasefire, he said, adding that Washington would be “very open” to playing a constructive role if it could help bring one about.

"The sooner we can reach that agreement, the less things will be destroyed, and the less people are going to die on both sides," he added.