Zelensky says Russia is already violating the "energy ceasefire" Trump announced
A day after President Trump declared on Truth Social that Russia and Ukraine had agreed an immediate energy truce, Kyiv reported new Russian strikes on a Kharkiv power plant and Naftogaz gas facilities. Moscow has not confirmed the deal.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Monday, 12 October, accused Russia of breaking the “energy ceasefire” that US President Donald Trump announced the day before, and urged Washington to make Moscow respect it.
A surprise announcement
On Sunday Trump wrote on Truth Social: “Effective immediately, there is an ENERGY CEASEFIRE in the War between Russia and Ukraine. Both parties have agreed. Do not break it!” He gave no details. There was no word from Moscow, and Zelensky said he was still waiting for details from the American side. Trump had made a similar announcement in mid-September that neither side confirmed.
The announcement followed days of US pressure on Kyiv to stop striking Russian oil refineries, which Trump blames for higher diesel prices ahead of the November midterm elections. A person familiar with the matter told Reuters the US had threatened to cut intelligence sharing and weapons purchases under the PURL system; the threats were first reported by the Financial Times. Two days earlier Trump had announced a temporary easing of US sanctions on Russian diesel, which drew criticism from Kyiv, European allies and some US lawmakers.
Strikes continued
Zelensky said Russian forces kept attacking energy infrastructure after the announcement, including a combined heat and power plant in Kharkiv; a Ukrainian official confirmed that strike came after Trump’s post. On Monday, state energy company Naftogaz said an overnight attack on its gas production facilities in the Kharkiv region caused a fire and damaged critical equipment.
Speaking by video to the Warsaw Security Forum, Zelensky said the truce “can work” and could be a major step toward ending the war “if the Americans truly step in now”, but warned: “If Russia does not agree to an energy ceasefire, we will respond.” French President Emmanuel Macron said he had not seen any energy ceasefire from the Russian side over the past 48 hours.
Elections question
Trump has also called for elections in Ukraine. Zelensky replied that he would organise a vote if Putin agreed to a 60-day full ceasefire; Ukrainian law bans elections under martial law.
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