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Russia reserves the right of resuming strikes on Ukrainian energy targets in case Kyiv violates the moratorium

The Kremlin has warned that Russia may withdraw from the U.S.-brokered ban on Moscow and Kyiv attacking each other's infrastructure, if Ukraine continues its attacks.

Separate agreements were announced by the United States and Russia on February 2nd to pause their attacks against each other's targets. This could be a stepping stone to a complete ceasefire, and to peace talks that will bring an end to this three-year conflict.

On Friday, Russia and Ukraine were earlier than usual

Accuse each other

The attack on a Russian gas metering facility in the western region of Russia, Kursk, was a major facility through which Moscow pumped its gas into Europe via pipeline up until the end last year.

Dmitry Peskov of the Kremlin, who had previously called the idea that Russia could attack its own infrastructure absurd, said Moscow was losing patience with the moratorium.

He told reporters that "the Russian side reserves its right to not observe the moratorium if the Kyiv regime does not observe it."

It would be absurd for us to comply, and then face every night the threat of an attack on our energy infrastructure.

Peskov, however, said that Russia will continue to adhere to the moratorium. The Ukraine has in turn accused Moscow of violating this agreement.

The President Vladimir Putin suggested that Ukraine be placed under temporary administration in order to hold new elections with the goal of reaching a peace settlement. Kyiv finds this idea outrageous.

Peskov stated that Putin did not discuss the idea in previous phone calls with U.S. president Donald Trump, as the Kremlin announced. Putin floated the idea because Russia is worried about the strength of armed nationalists in Ukraine, said Peskov.

Peskov stated: "There have not been any discussions on this subject; this is the position of the Russian president, which is based upon irrefutable factual evidence about the current status quo in Ukraine." (Reporting and writing by Dmitry Antonov, Editing by Andrew Osborn).

(source: Reuters)