Donald Trump announced a Russia-Ukraine "energy ceasefire" on Sunday, saying it took effect immediately, but provided no operational details. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said the announcement was news to him and called for clarity from US officials before committing. He stated that Kyiv would support such a move if Moscow agreed. Russia has not publicly responded.
Zelensky later reported that Russia struck a power plant in Kyiv with a drone and hit energy facilities in the Kharkiv region shortly after Trump's statement. "All of this happened after the president of the United States made his statement about an energy ceasefire," Zelensky said.
Trump's announcement comes as part of a broader effort to lower US fuel prices before midterm elections. The US president has been pushing Ukraine to halt strikes on Russian oil infrastructure. The Trump administration recently struck a deal to temporarily undo sanctions on Russian diesel imports, allowing Moscow to sell fuel to global markets including the US.
Zelensky called the diesel deal "a gift to Russian President Vladimir Putin." The deal has drawn criticism from British Defence Secretary Wes Streeting, the EU foreign policy chief, and seven US senators from both parties. Republican Senator Thom Tillis told NBC News the deal "absolutely will" put American lives at risk. The senators said the arrangement runs counter to US law explicitly banning Russian energy imports until Russia ends aggression against Ukraine.
On Saturday, Trump accused Zelensky of wanting to "make problems for the world" by continuing drone attacks on Russian refineries. Trump suggested "it is time for Ukraine to get a new president." Zelensky responded by pledging to hold elections if Russia agreed to a 60-day total ceasefire, though Ukrainian elections are suspended under wartime constitutional law.
The UK, France, Canada and the EU expressed support for Trump's energy ceasefire call. The BBC sought additional details from the White House. Fighting continues on the ground. Six people died in Sunday attacks on two Ukrainian cities, officials said.