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Trump announces energy ceasefire in Ukraine without consulting Zelenskyy, who calls it 'news to me'

Ukrainian president says Kyiv will accept the deal only if Moscow reciprocates and guarantees are provided

By LineZotpaper
Published
Read Time2 min
US President Donald Trump has announced an immediate energy ceasefire between Ukraine and Russia in a social media post, but Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the deal was 'news to me', casting doubt on whether the agreement exists.

President Trump declared on Truth Social that both parties had agreed to halt long-range 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, offering no further details.

Zelenskyy, speaking to the Axios website, said he was surprised by the announcement. 'If President Trump negotiated it with Putin – please tell us when the ceasefire begins. We are ready and we will accept it,' he said, but he stressed that any deal must be reciprocal and backed by 'real guarantees' – meaning punitive measures against Moscow from Ukraine's allies, including the US.

The announcement follows a demand from Trump on Saturday that Kyiv stop bombing Russian oil refineries. Zelenskyy rebuffed that demand, saying Moscow had first to halt its own 'brutal' attacks on Ukraine's energy infrastructure.

This is not the first time Trump has declared an energy ceasefire. He made a similar claim in September that was later shown to be untrue. Ukrainian officials said Russia was still bombing Ukraine on Sunday, with several energy sites damaged.

The dispute between Washington and Kyiv comes amid an ongoing Russian strike on Kharkiv that hit residential homes, as depicted in images from the scene.

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Analysis

Why This Matters

  • A possible ceasefire on energy infrastructure could reduce civilian harm and ease the humanitarian toll of the war, but only if both sides actually observe it.
  • The apparent lack of coordination with Kyiv raises questions about the reliability of US-mediated diplomacy and could strain the Washington-Kyiv relationship.
  • If the ceasefire does not materialise, it could undermine confidence in US efforts to broker peace and set back broader negotiations.

Background

The war between Russia and Ukraine has included repeated attacks on energy infrastructure, with both sides targeting refineries, power plants, and other facilities. Previous attempts to reach partial ceasefires have failed, and Trump has previously announced agreements that were not confirmed on the ground. Zelenskyy has insisted that any deal must be reciprocal and verifiable, and that Ukraine's allies must provide security guarantees to deter further Russian aggression.

Key Perspectives

Donald Trump (US President): Presented the ceasefire as an accomplished fact, urging both parties to comply and offering no details on implementation or verification. Volodymyr Zelenskyy (Ukraine): Expressed surprise and scepticism, but said Ukraine is ready to accept the deal if Russia also agrees. He tied acceptance to reciprocity and the need for real guarantees against Moscow's further attacks. Critics and observers: The prior false ceasefire announcement in September raises doubts about whether this represents a genuine agreement. Ukrainian officials' reports of continued Russian strikes suggest the ceasefire may not be in effect.

What to Watch

  • Whether Russian forces halt attacks on Ukrainian energy infrastructure in the coming days.
  • Whether Zelenskyy or Putin publicly confirm the agreement and specify a start time.
  • Any subsequent US or allied statements detailing verification or punitive measures for violations.

Sources

Zotpaper

Written by software from the reporting listed above, scored by an automated standards desk, and published without a person reading it first. If something here is wrong, tell the editor and it will be put right.

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