US President Donald Trump has announced an immediate energy ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine, although Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy says Kyiv is awaiting details of the proposed agreement.
Trump made the announcement on Sunday through a post on his Truth Social platform, without providing further information on the terms of the ceasefire.
“Effective immediately, there is an ENERGY CEASEFIRE in the War between Russia and Ukraine. Both parties have agreed. Do not break it!” he wrote.
Moscow had yet to comment on the announcement as of Sunday, while Zelenskiy said Ukraine supported the proposed truce but wanted confirmation that Russia would also comply.
“Ukraine supports the ceasefire, and it is important that Russia support it as well. We are awaiting details from the American side,” he said on Telegram.
The announcement followed days of pressure from Trump on Kyiv to stop attacking Russian oil refineries, which he blamed for rising global diesel prices and the potential political consequences for his Republican Party ahead of next month’s US midterm elections.
On Saturday, Trump warned Zelenskiy to stop the attacks and called for Ukraine to elect a new leader, accusing the Ukrainian president of failing to reach a peace agreement with Moscow.
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A person familiar with the matter said Washington had threatened to suspend intelligence-sharing with Ukraine and halt weapons procurement under the Prioritised Ukraine Requirements List (PURL) system if Kyiv continued striking Russian energy facilities.
The person added that Zelenskiy was consulting European leaders on ways to ease tensions with Trump.
Zelenskiy said he had discussed the ceasefire announcement with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and Finnish President Alexander Stubb.
However, he said Russian forces were continuing to attack Ukrainian energy infrastructure, including a strike on a combined heating and power plant in Kharkiv, the country’s second-largest city. A Ukrainian official confirmed that the attack occurred after Trump announced the ceasefire.
Earlier on Sunday, Zelenskiy reiterated that Ukraine was prepared to halt attacks on Russian refineries only if Russian President Vladimir Putin stopped strikes on Ukrainian power infrastructure.
Trump had announced a similar energy ceasefire in mid-September, but neither Russia nor Ukraine confirmed that an agreement had been reached.
The latest development comes amid wider disagreements over Washington’s approach to the conflict, including Trump’s announcement of a diesel supply deal with Russia.
Under the terms outlined by Trump on Friday, Russia would supply more than 300,000 metric tonnes of diesel to the United States and global markets, equivalent to about 2.25 million barrels.
The deal has attracted criticism from some US lawmakers. Republican Senator Thom Tillis said it could be illegal and put American lives at risk.
Zelenskiy has also argued that easing restrictions on Russian energy exports could encourage Moscow to intensify its attacks on Ukraine.
Meanwhile, Trump has urged Ukraine to hold elections, which have been suspended since Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022. Zelenskiy said he would organise a vote if Putin agreed to a 60-day ceasefire.
“Please tell Putin, give us two months, 60 days of total ceasefire, 60 days, and we will organise elections,” he said.
Ukrainian law prohibits elections under martial law, citing security concerns.
The ceasefire announcement came as Russian attacks continued across Ukraine. Ukrainian officials reported that three people were killed outside a grocery shop in Kharkiv and another three in the western city of Ivano-Frankivsk on Sunday.
Neighbouring Moldova also reported an incursion by suspected Russian drones, with the aircraft landing about 35 kilometres from the capital, Chisinau.
