Ukraine and Russia signal openness to limited ceasefire on grain and energy

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on September 23 that both Ukraine and Russia have expressed interest in a limited ceasefire covering grain exports and energy infrastructure, though such a pause would not end the war but could ease global pressures. Rubio noted the difficulty of achieving this, as both sides view energy strikes as strategic military targets. He confirmed Washington's readiness to facilitate the process, suggesting such an agreement could become a basis for a peace deal. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, however, publicly reaffirmed Moscow's commitment to its military goals and ruled out pauses during negotiations, while Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has publicly supported the energy ceasefire proposal.