Putin acknowledged the fuel shortage, but called it “not critical.” He promised to increase supplies to Crimea, where there is now “a supply of several days”

Vladimir Putin admitted that there is a “certain shortage” of fuel in Russia, but called it “not critical.” He made this statement in an interview with Rossiya TV channel correspondent Pavel Zarubin, which was published on the Kremlin website:

“As for attacks on critical infrastructure in general, on energy infrastructure in particular, then, of course, these attacks on our infrastructure create problems, this is obvious. We are now observing a certain deficit, but it is not critical, I will say now.”

Putin said that Crimea has a supply of fuel for several days:

“As for energy supplies to Crimea, the monthly need (the minister reported to me) is 70 thousand tons. There are now a few days' supply in Crimea, but the needs will be met. And we will increase these deliveries both by land and by sea. I am confident that this problem will be solved.”

Putin went on to say that attacks on Russian infrastructure are being carried out, among other things, “to fuel the information campaign”:

“[The strikes are carried out] at a minimum with the goal of creating self-doubt in us, in our abilities, and even better - to create a split in Russian society and force Russia to suspend, at least for some short time, the offensive of our troops on the line of combat contact and create conditions for the start of the negotiation process on conditions favorable to itself, that is, to our enemy.

We won't give them that chance. This is all the more important since all these terrorist attacks have no effect on the situation at the front.”

According to Putin, the authorities are planning the following steps to solve the problem of fuel shortages.

• “Quickly and significantly increase production of the most in-demand air defense systems.”
• “We will get out of repairs faster, establish the necessary volume of imports and reliably cover these [oil refining] facilities.”
• “Coordination of the work of all levels and structures involved in repelling attacks by unmanned aerial vehicles and missiles on our infrastructure.”

Putin claims that the Ukrainian authorities allegedly offered to agree on a mutual cessation of strikes deep into the territories of Russia and Ukraine:

“It is clear why this proposal is being made. Because our retaliatory strikes deep into the territory of Ukraine are much more powerful, sensitive and, frankly speaking, destructive, leading to truly serious consequences for the Kyiv regime.

Another proposal is to limit military operations, please note, to only four territories, that is, to conduct military operations only in the Kherson region, Zaporozhye region, the Donetsk People's Republic and the Lugansk People's Republic, and to stop military operations in all other territories. It’s also clear why. Because if we go for it, it will enable the Ukrainian Armed Forces to withdraw its troops from the Nikolaev region, Dnepropetrovsk region, Kharkov and Sumy regions, as well as from some sections of the state border and transfer these units to the four above-mentioned regions.

In conditions of a catastrophic shortage of personnel, the Armed Forces of Ukraine apparently believe that this could be their salvation. But saving the Kyiv regime is not part of our plans. Although we pay attention, I say now without any irony, to every proposal that comes from that side.”

Answering a reporter’s question, Putin said that he does not believe that the United States has changed its position on the war in Ukraine under pressure from the European Union. Putin called Trump “a more than mature and experienced politician” and added that Moscow is ready to “continue negotiations and discuss all the details.” According to him, the Kremlin is awaiting the arrival of American negotiators, who have not appeared in Russia since January.

At the end of March, Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky said that Kiev was ready for an “energy truce”: “I emphasize once again: if Russia is ready not to attack Ukrainian energy, we will not attack their energy. We are ready to discuss any ceasefire."