Zelensky says Russia struck Kharkiv plant after announcement
President Donald Trump announced Sunday that Russia and Ukraine agreed to an “energy ceasefire” under which the warring countries will not attack energy facilities. The announcement came shortly after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky urged Trump on ABC’s This Week to seek such an arrangement between Kyiv and Moscow.
Zelensky, posting on Facebook after Trump’s announcement, said: “Ukraine supports the ceasefire, and it is important that Russia support it as well. We are awaiting details from the American side.” He added: “For our part, Ukraine always FULLY supports steps toward de-escalation, the protection of lives, and the decisions needed to end the war and guarantee lasting peace.”
TASS, the Russian state news agency, published a story in Russian about Trump’s announcement but did not include any comment from the Russian government.
Later Sunday, Zelensky said the CHPP-5 power plant in Kharkiv was struck by Russia after the announcement.
The ceasefire announcement followed two days of U.S.-Russia energy diplomacy. On Friday, Trump said he and Russian President Vladimir Putin reached an agreement under which Russia would immediately supply more than 300,000 tons of diesel, followed by another 500,000 tons in November and 1 million tons shortly afterward.
The Treasury Department said Friday it was issuing a temporary license allowing Russian diesel to be sold on the global market despite existing U.S. sanctions. The license will remain in effect until April 7. The United States banned imports of Russian oil and other energy products in 2022 following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Zelensky on Friday criticized the diesel arrangement in an interview with Axios. “You know, it looks like a happy birthday present for Putin,” he said. “It looks absolutely terrible.” Putin’s birthday was Oct. 7.
Trump responded to Zelensky’s criticism on Saturday, saying “it’s time for Ukraine to get a new president.”