Zelensky needs to be ‘brought to his senses’ – Russian FM

Kiev has attacked internationally operated energy infrastructure in “latest tantrum”, according to Russia’s top diplomat.

Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky needs to be “brought to his senses” and reprimanded in response to Kiev’s recent attack on a pumping station linked to a major international oil pipeline, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stated on Tuesday.

In the early hours of Monday, several Ukrainian drones attacked the Kropotkinskaya station in southern Russia, a major part of the energy infrastructure object operated by the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC).

Most of the crude pumped by the conglomerate’s pipeline system comes from oil fields in West Kazakhstan, with US companies controlling around 40% of supplies shipped from the facility.

This “latest tantrum” was essentially “an attack on Kazakhstan’s energy infrastructure,” Lavrov said during a press briefing following bilateral talks with the US diplomatic delegation in Riyadh. One can only guess why “someone in Kiev” gave the order, he added.

“But this should only strengthen everyone’s resolve that this cannot continue,” the diplomat stressed.

“Zelensky and his whole team need to be brought to their senses, given a slap on the wrist.”

According to Lavrov, US diplomats suggested putting a “moratorium” on strikes on energy infrastructure during Tuesday’s bilateral talks.

“We explained that we never jeopardized the systems which supply power for the population,” he said, adding that Russia only targeted “those objects that directly serve the Armed Forces of Ukraine.”

The diplomat praised the “highly productive” talks with the US side. “Not only did we listen, but we genuinely heard each other,” he said.

When asked by a journalist about attempts to “torpedo” the reestablished diplomatic contact between Moscow and Washington, Lavrov noted that to prevent this, relations need to be fine-tuned.

“That is what we did today. Frankly, not without success,” he said.

On top of agreeing to reestablish diplomatic ties, Russia and the US have agreed to build a framework towards reaching a settlement in the Ukraine conflict through negotiations, Lavrov said.