Zelensky Warns of Reciprocal Strikes if Russia Targets Power Grid

President Volodymyr Zelensky warned that Ukraine will retaliate in kind if Russian forces launch strikes against the country’s energy infrastructure this winter, pledging reciprocal consequences if Moscow attempts to plunge Ukrainian cities into blackouts. Speaking in an interview with American journalist Fareed Zakaria and addressing the Yalta European Strategy (YES) forum in Kyiv on Friday, Sept. 11, Zelensky stressed that while Russia is preparing an aerial campaign against Ukraine’s power grid, Kyiv has built the capabilities to respond symmetrically.JOIN US ON TELEGRAMFollow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official. “Ukraine is capable of responding to Russia for any of their operations,” Zelensky said. “Russia knows that if they strike – and they are preparing to strike our energy system in the winter – Russia will receive the exact same. If they cause us blackouts, we will try to respond to them in kind.” Zelensky clarified that while Kyiv will not emulate Moscow’s disregard for civilian life, it will not leave strategic infrastructure attacks unanswered. “I’m not comparing this to the humanitarian catastrophes they are causing today. Ukraine does not do that,” he stated. Call for an ‘energy truce’ Zelensky emphasized that an escalating cycle of infrastructure strikes can be averted if the parties agree to a targeted “energy truce” alongside unblocking the Black Sea. “The negotiation process must be about ending the war,” Zelensky explained. “And if Russia does not want to end it, then partners need to find an approach toward it. If that is difficult to find, then today, at the very least, we need to move forward step by step. Unblock the Black Sea and find a way toward an energy truce, if one can use that phrase, where the energy sector of both countries is protected.” Other Topics of Interest Russian Missile-Drone Attack Hits Odesa Apartment Building, Injures Six Six people were hospitalized after Russia struck a residential high-rise in Odesa during an overnight missile and drone attack. “In other words, if the Russians do not strike our energy system – and our people have electricity – Ukraine will likewise refrain from responding,” the president added. Addressing the broader geopolitical spillovers of the conflict, Zelensky raised alarm over the maritime food corridor in the Black Sea, which remains heavily obstructed from both sides due to ongoing strikes on civilian commercial vessels and port facilities. While assuring that domestic food security is not under threat, Zelensky warned that the naval deadlock poses catastrophic risks for the Global South, comparing the situation to maritime bottlenecks in the Middle East. “Ukrainians will not be left without food,” Zelensky said. “Grain prices will fall [domestically] because exporting will be expensive, commercial infrastructure will be complicated, and logistics will be terrible. But beyond Ukraine, other nations will be in a far worse situation where they simply will not have food. Many peoples will have nothing to eat, even if they have money. That will be Hormuz, but agricultural. And this is a grave problem that cannot be solved by Ukraine alone.” Zelensky noted that he has conducted direct consultations regarding maritime food transport with leaders from Egypt, India, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. Step-by-step diplomacy and push for US sanctions Framing energy protection and food transit as the two most urgent global challenges stemming from the war, Zelensky reiterated that diplomacy remains Ukraine’s preferred avenue, urging international partners to help organize a formal trilateral negotiation format alongside ongoing prisoner exchanges. Concurrently, the president appealed to the US to accelerate the adoption of a sweeping new sanctions package against the Russian Federation, specifically commending legislative efforts linked to US Senator Lindsey Graham. “Sanctions need to be introduced now. Sanctions must be strong,” Zelensky urged. “During a war, it is better to make an imperfect decision at times than to do nothing at all.” Kyiv Post is Ukraine’s first and oldest English news organization, reporting since 1995. Its international reach – 97% of readers are outside of Ukraine – make it truly Ukraine’s global voice.