Zelensky backs ceasefire as Moscow has yet to confirm
President Trump declared that Russia and Ukraine had agreed to halt strikes on each other’s energy infrastructure, posting on Truth Social on Sunday: “Effective immediately, there is an ENERGY CEASEFIRE in the War between Russia and Ukraine. Both parties have agreed.”
The announcement repeats one Trump made a month ago, on Sept. 14, which Moscow has rejected so far. Russia and Ukraine continued their strikes after that announcement. The Kremlin didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment on Sunday, and Russian President Vladimir Putin has so far rebuffed proposals for an energy ceasefire.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Ukraine supports the ceasefire but is waiting for Russia to support it and for details from the U.S.
“Ukraine supports the ceasefire, and it is important that Russia support it as well. We are awaiting details from the American side,” Zelensky said in a social-media post on Sunday after a call with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, Finnish President Alexander Stubb and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney.
Zelensky reiterated on Sunday that he is open to stopping airstrikes against Russian oil refineries if Moscow stops bombing Ukraine’s energy grid, but has rebuffed Trump’s pressure for Kyiv to cease its strikes unilaterally.
Trump’s statement came after he sharply criticized Zelensky on Saturday, calling for his removal as Ukrainian leader and blaming him for Russia’s continuing war on Ukraine, as well as for pushing up fuel prices, which have risen globally since the U.S.-Iran war disrupted Middle East energy exports.
With no end to the conflict with Iran in sight, Trump has presented Russia as part of the solution, announcing a deal with Putin on Friday to boost the supply of Russian diesel to the U.S. and world markets. Energy experts say the deal, if implemented, could benefit the Kremlin’s coffers but is unlikely to provide significant relief to global energy markets.
The deal has opened a division within the Republican Party ahead of the Nov. 3 Congressional midterm elections, with some of the party’s lawmakers sharply rebuking it, arguing that it would embolden Putin and prolong the war. “The American people are hurting because of this world market when it comes to diesel and fuel in general,” Rep. Tom Emmer (R., Minn.) told ABC News on Sunday, defending the agreement. “Our president is trying to find every answer possible.”
Sen. Thom Tillis (R., N.C.) said on NBC News on Sunday: “I will guarantee you at the first opportunity Putin has to embarrass or undermine President Trump, he will.”
Opinion polls suggest Trump’s Republicans are facing the risk of significant electoral losses in the midterms, with high gasoline and diesel prices contributing to voter discontent.
Russia is bombarding Ukraine’s energy infrastructure with missiles and drones in an attempt to destroy the supply of heating, light, water and other essential services to Ukrainian cities ahead of winter. In the past week, Russia has attacked Ukraine’s electricity system 196 times and its oil and gas infrastructure 20 times, Zelensky said in an interview with ABC News broadcast on Sunday. Russia’s missile and drone strikes on cities have also killed 153 people in that time, he said.
“It’s a signal that Russia doesn’t feel real pressure. They want to continue,” Zelensky said. “If they want (an) energy ceasefire, we are open for this.”
Bombing Russian refineries is the strongest card Ukraine holds to force Putin to stop the war he launched nearly five years ago. Ukrainian officials have said in recent days that Kyiv intends to keep striking Russian refineries unless Putin changes tack and accepts a mutual moratorium on energy strikes. Trump’s comments in recent days have shown the limits of U.S. leverage in the war, where Europe, not America, has become the mainstay of support for Kyiv’s defense against Moscow’s invasion.