Russia links ceasefire to sanctions relief and halt to Ukrainian strikes

Ukrainian drone strikes have significantly escalated, impacting output at multiple major Russian diesel and gasoline refineries, leading to domestic fuel shortages and export bans. Former US President Trump has publicly urged Ukraine to halt these strikes, citing global fuel concerns, but Russia has rejected an energy truce until winter and continues its own attacks on Ukrainian energy infrastructure. The status of any ceasefire agreement remains highly disputed, with Kyiv denying knowledge of a deal and Moscow conditioning a truce on sanctions relief and an end to tanker attacks.