Who is escalating? Zelenskyy versus Putin

Zelenskyy says Putin will talk about peace, keep attacking and blame Ukraine; he calls for an energy truce as a first stage. Putin says Ukraine started the escalation and must feel Russia’s retaliatory strikes. He nevertheless leaves a ceasefire and renewed talks possible, subject to Russia’s interests. Two competing explanations for the continued strikes, with each speaker’s accusations kept as claims. Zelenskyy’s September 22 Ukrinform briefing uses the source’s English auto-dubbed track; Putin’s September 25 remarks are carried by Vremya. Separate recordings; neither establishes an agreed truce.

Sep 22

After meeting Trump in New York, Zelenskyy says Ukraine is ready to stop attacks on Russian diesel supplies and refineries if Russia stops attacking Ukraine's electricity, heating and water infrastructure. Tagesschau introduces the statement as thanks for U.S. support followed by conditions. The offer is conditional; no Russian acceptance or operational ceasefire is reported. TSN's September 23 account repeats the reciprocal energy proposal and adds Zelenskyy's reply that Trump did not ask for a unilateral halt at the New York meeting. It contrasts that reply with U.S. media claims about an earlier telephone call; the allegation about the call is not confirmation of a one-sided commitment. Oman TV's September 23 report says the United States would convey the energy proposal to Russia and recalls Peskov's earlier rejection in favor of a comprehensive peace settlement. It describes continued Ukrainian willingness, not a newly agreed truce. The original Ukrinform briefing supplies Zelenskyy's full conditional offer and his statement that the Russian position is unknown. In follow-up answers he denies a unilateral demand at that day's Trump meeting, explains reciprocal energy restraint as a possible first stage and attributes to intelligence a Russian effort to justify further strikes by reference to attacks during elections. Those allegations are not an established account of a separately identified attack.