Wadephul: Russia must make 'first move' in Ukraine energy ceasefire

German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul on Tuesday insisted that Russia must "make the first move" in committing to the limited ceasefire with Ukraine announced by US President Donald Trump. 

When Moscow is ready to stop attacks on energy infrastructure, Kiev will be too, Wadephul said as he attended the Warsaw Security Forum along with his counterparts from Poland, Norway and Britain. 

"In this situation, we must make it absolutely clear: it is not up to Ukraine to make the first move. Ukraine did not start this war. In fact, it is Russia that should make the first move."

Ukraine has already indicated that it would be willing to take part in a ceasefire if a mutual agreement is reached, said Wadephul. The German government fully supports Ukraine in this position, he added.

Over the weekend, Trump claimed that Ukraine and Russia would refrain from attacking each other’s energy sectors. 

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky indicated he was open to the proposal, but stressed that Russia had not yet responded to it. 

According to Zelensky, there were massive Russian air strikes on civilian targets and Ukraine’s energy infrastructure even after Trump’s announcement.

Wadephul also suggested Europe must develop its own joint position on how to end the conflict.

"I believe this is the moment when we need to formulate an independent European position," he said.

The comments came after Trump announced an agreement for Moscow to supply hundreds of thousands of tons of diesel on Friday. The Trump administration temporarily eased sanctions on Russia's energy sector to facilitate the agreement.

Ahead of departing for Warsaw, Wadephul said, "Europe is capable of acting and stands united behind Ukraine."

He also pointed to the latest EU sanctions against Russia, describing them as the most extensive in the bloc's history.

EU foreign ministers agreed on Monday to impose sanctions on nearly 1,600 individuals, companies and other entities supporting Russia's war effort, including those involved in producing ballistic missiles and supplying components for Russian drones and aircraft.

At the Warsaw Security Forum, Wadephul took part in a discussion titled "The Return of Power Politics: Europe Between War and Rivalry," alongside Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski, Norway's Espen Barth Eide and Britain's Ed Miliband.