Trump announces Russia-Ukraine energy ceasefire

US President Donald Trump has announced an immediate energy ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine, claiming both countries have agreed to halt attacks on energy infrastructure. However, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said Kyiv was still waiting for details from Washington, while Moscow had yet to publicly confirm the agreement.

Trump announced the development on Sunday through his Truth Social platform. His statement came after days of mounting pressure on Ukraine to stop attacking Russian oil refineries. The US president has blamed these strikes for contributing to rising diesel prices, which have become a political concern for his Republican Party ahead of next month’s midterm elections.

The announcement followed a sharp deterioration in relations between Trump and Zelenskiy. On Saturday, Trump urged the Ukrainian leader to stop targeting Russian refineries and suggested that Ukraine should elect a different leader willing to negotiate with Russian President Vladimir Putin. He also accused Zelenskiy of missing previous opportunities to reach an agreement with Moscow.

Zelenskiy said Ukraine supported the proposed ceasefire but stressed that Russia must also commit to ending its attacks. He confirmed that he had discussed Trump’s announcement with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and Finnish President Alexander Stubb.

The Ukrainian president said Kyiv was awaiting further information from the American administration. He also maintained that Ukraine was prepared to suspend attacks on Russian energy facilities if Moscow stopped targeting Ukrainian power infrastructure.

Despite Trump’s announcement, Russian attacks on Ukrainian energy facilities reportedly continued. Zelenskiy said Russian forces had struck a combined heating and power plant in Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city. A Ukrainian official confirmed that the attack occurred after the US president announced the ceasefire.

The latest development comes amid Washington’s reported efforts to pressure Kyiv into halting strikes on Russian energy sites. A person familiar with the matter said the United States had threatened to suspend intelligence sharing with Ukraine and halt weapons procurement through the Prioritised Ukraine Requirements List programme. Zelenskiy was also holding discussions with European leaders about reducing tensions with Trump.

The proposed ceasefire follows an earlier announcement by Trump in September, when he said an energy truce had been reached. Neither Russia nor Ukraine subsequently confirmed that such an agreement had been finalised.

Trump has also renewed calls for elections in Ukraine, where voting has been suspended under martial law following Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022. Zelenskiy responded that Ukraine could organise elections if Putin agreed to a 60-day ceasefire.

The Ukrainian president said the country’s leadership should be chosen by its own citizens. However, he insisted that fighting must stop before elections could take place. Ukrainian law prohibits holding national elections under martial law, citing security concerns.

Zelenskiy also rejected Trump’s suggestion that Ukrainian attacks were responsible for rising global fuel prices. He argued that the war in the Middle East had played a greater role in driving energy costs higher.

Fuel prices have become a growing concern for the Trump administration following the outbreak of the Iran war in February. The increase has created political pressure for Republicans as they prepare for the November midterm elections.

Tensions between Washington and Kyiv have also intensified over a separate diesel supply arrangement involving Russia. Trump said Moscow would immediately supply more than 300,000 metric tonnes of diesel to the US and international markets, equivalent to approximately 2.25 million barrels of fuel.

Zelenskiy criticised the arrangement, warning that it could encourage further Russian attacks and lead to additional casualties in Ukraine. Several American lawmakers also raised concerns about the deal. Republican Senator Thom Tillis questioned its legality and warned that it could put American lives at risk.

Trump’s comments about Ukraine’s leadership have also drawn criticism from residents in Kyiv, some of whom said decisions about the country’s future should remain in Ukrainian hands. They argued that elections could not be conducted normally while the country remained at war.

Meanwhile, Russian attacks continued across Ukraine. Ukrainian officials reported that three people were killed outside a grocery store in Kharkiv, while another three died in the western city of Ivano-Frankivsk.

Neighbouring Moldova also reported an incursion by suspected Russian drones, with the aircraft reportedly landing about 35 kilometres from the capital, Chisinau.