President Donald Trump announced Sunday that Russia and Ukraine had agreed to an immediate halt to attacks on energy infrastructure — a declaration that blindsided Kyiv, drew skepticism from Moscow and European allies, and appeared to unravel within hours.
“Effective immediately, there is an ENERGY CEASEFIRE in the War between Russia and Ukraine. Both parties have agreed. Do not break it!” Trump wrote on social media Sunday morning.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said the announcement was news to him. “If President Trump negotiated it with Putin, please tell us when the ceasefire begins. We are ready, and we will accept it,” he told Axios, adding that Kyiv would support the proposal if Moscow did.
Moscow poured cold water on the announcement. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said only that “contacts are ongoing,” without adding further details. Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Zelensky did not deserve a ceasefire. “I do not believe he has earned such a respite, nor do I think we will once again fall for assurances and promises,” Lavrov said Monday in a video address.
Shortly after Trump’s announcement, Russia struck a thermal power plant in Kharkiv, causing further damage to Ukraine’s energy system, Zelensky said Monday at the Warsaw Security Forum. He said Ukraine had carried out no strikes on Russian refineries overnight, and urged the United States to ensure Moscow sticks to any agreement.
European leaders voiced skepticism. French President Emmanuel Macron said he had seen no signs of Russia respecting any ceasefire in the past 48 hours, noting that Moscow had intensified its strikes on Ukrainian infrastructure. The European Union on Monday approved new sanctions targeting Russia’s military-industrial complex, urging Washington to keep pressure on Moscow.
The announcement came alongside a new U.S. deal to buy large amounts of Russian diesel, a move that angered Ukraine and European allies. Trump had declared a temporary easing of U.S. sanctions on Russian diesel on Friday and called Saturday for a new president in Ukraine — a call echoing Moscow’s own demands, according to The Times.
The diplomacy comes as Trump faces pressure over high energy prices ahead of next month’s U.S. midterm elections, Reuters reported.
This is a developing story.
Sources: Reuters, CNN, Le Monde, The Times.
