Trump announced the agreement on social media, writing: 'Effective immediately, there is an ENERGY CEASEFIRE in the War between Russia and Ukraine. Both parties have agreed. Do not break it!' The announcement comes less than a month before US midterm elections, with political betting markets showing rising odds of a Democratic sweep of Congress.
Zelenskyy pressed for a broader truce. 'Please tell Putin, give us two months, 60 days of total ceasefire, 60 days, and we will organise elections,' he said. The offer followed recent criticism from Trump, who on Saturday said Ukraine should get a new president and attacked Zelenskyy for striking Russian oil refineries. 'He better damn well stop,' Trump told reporters.
Zelenskyy countered that the easing of sanctions on Russian diesel had emboldened Moscow. 'Today, Russia said thank you for the lifting of sanctions on diesel exports by dropping five glide bombs on residential buildings in Zaporizhzhia,' he said. At least 16 people were killed in Zaporizhzhia on Saturday, including a six-year-old girl pulled from rubble by rescuers.
The conflict, now in its fourth-and-a-half year, has seen intensifying attacks on energy infrastructure that have pressured global energy prices. Critics question whether the energy ceasefire is a genuine diplomatic breakthrough or an election-season attempt by Trump to claim a foreign policy win.