Trump Announces Russia-Ukraine Energy Ceasefire, but Attacks Reported in Ukraine
US President Donald Trump on Sunday announced an immediate energy ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine, but the terms of the proposed agreement remained unclear as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said Kyiv was still waiting for details from Washington.
Trump announced the ceasefire in a post on his Truth Social platform, declaring that both countries had agreed to stop attacks on energy infrastructure.
“Effective immediately, there is an ENERGY CEASEFIRE in the War between Russia and Ukraine. Both parties have agreed. Do not break it!” he wrote.
However, Zelenskiy said Ukraine supported the ceasefire but needed Russia to commit to the arrangement, adding that his government was awaiting further information from the American side.
“Ukraine supports the ceasefire, and it is important that Russia support it as well. We are awaiting details from the American side,” Zelenskiy said in a post on Telegram.
According to Reuters and The Associated Press, Russia had not publicly responded to Trump’s announcement at the time of their reports.
Hours after Trump’s announcement, Zelenskiy said Russian forces were continuing attacks on Ukrainian energy infrastructure, including a strike on a combined heating and power plant in Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city.
The Ukrainian president said the attack had affected the city’s energy system. He also reported more than 200 strikes on Ukrainian electricity-generating facilities over the preceding week and 17 attacks on oil and gas installations.
ABC News also reported that the thermal power plant CHP-5 in Kharkiv had been struck at least twice, causing a fire, according to a local official.
The reports raised questions about whether the ceasefire announced by Trump had been communicated to both countries and whether the parties had agreed on its terms.
Neither the reported attacks nor Trump’s announcement, on their own, establish whether a formal ceasefire agreement was in force.
Zelenskiy had earlier said Ukraine was prepared to stop attacks on Russian refineries if Moscow halted strikes on Ukrainian energy infrastructure.
He also called on Trump to press Russia to stop targeting Ukraine’s energy facilities.
The position followed growing tensions over attacks on energy infrastructure on both sides of the war, with Washington seeking to reduce the attacks as part of efforts to de-escalate the conflict.
Zelenskiy said he had discussed Trump’s announcement with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and Finnish President Alexander Stubb.
He reiterated Ukraine’s support for measures aimed at reducing hostilities and protecting lives, while stressing the need for the proposed ceasefire to become effective in practice.
The immediate question is whether Russia will publicly confirm the ceasefire and whether both sides will agree on its scope and implementation.
Trump’s announcement did not provide details on the duration of the proposed ceasefire, the specific facilities covered or the arrangements for monitoring compliance.
As of the latest reports reviewed, Ukraine had expressed support for the proposal but was still awaiting details, while Russia had yet to publicly confirm its participation.
The effectiveness of the proposed arrangement will depend on whether both countries commit to stopping attacks on each other’s energy infrastructure.
