Trump announces energy ceasefire; Russia continues strikes on Ukrainian power plants

US President Donald Trump announced Sunday that Russia and Ukraine have agreed to an "energy ceasefire," claiming it is effective immediately. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed surprise at the announcement and said Kyiv would support the move if Russia did the same. However, within hours, Zelensky accused Russia of continuing to strike Ukrainian energy infrastructure, including a power plant in Kyiv and facilities in the Kharkiv region—contradicting Trump's claim. The Kremlin has not publicly confirmed or commented on the alleged agreement.

The announcement comes amid growing tension between Trump and Zelensky over a separate controversial diesel deal between the US and Russia. Under the agreement, the US partially lifted sanctions on Russian energy imports to supply global markets with Russian diesel fuel. Zelensky criticized the arrangement as a "gift to Putin" and said it would prolong the war by providing Moscow with revenue. Trump responded by suggesting Ukraine should "get a new president" and accused Zelensky of wanting to "make problems for the world" by continuing Ukrainian drone strikes on Russian oil refineries, which Kyiv views as essential to curtailing Moscow's war financing.

Energy infrastructure has been a major target throughout the war. Russia has conducted large-scale strikes on Ukrainian power plants since the 2022 invasion, leaving millions without electricity during winter months. Ukraine has systematically targeted Russian refineries in response, describing these attacks as necessary to reduce the Kremlin's ability to finance military operations. In recent months, both sides have escalated aerial warfare as front-line positions remain largely static.

The diesel deal has drawn criticism from multiple quarters. Seven US senators—three Democrats and four Republicans—issued a statement saying the agreement "runs directly counter" to a law banning Russian energy imports until Moscow ends aggression against Ukraine. UK Defence Secretary Wes Streeting and EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas both criticized the deal. However, UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham, France, Canada, and the EU all expressed support for the energy ceasefire itself, though without confirming Russia's agreement to it.

Zelensky said he had spoken with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, Finnish President Alexander Stubb, and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte about Trump's announcement. In an earlier ABC News interview on Sunday, Zelensky had stated: "If they want energy ceasefire, we are open for this. Don't attack us. Don't kill our children. We will stop attacking your diesel." His later accusations of Russian strikes suggest the ceasefire, if agreed, has not held.