STORY
Donald Trump’s announcement of an energy ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine was publicly undermined on Sunday 11 October, when Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the purported agreement was “news to me”. Trump had declared on Truth Social that the ceasefire would take effect immediately and that both countries had agreed. Zelenskyy said Ukraine would accept a reciprocal halt to energy attacks, but had not been informed of the arrangement.
Russian attacks on Ukrainian energy infrastructure subsequently continued, according to Ukrainian officials. Zelenskyy reported a strike on a power plant in Kharkiv, and his presidential office confirmed that it occurred after Trump’s announcement. Moscow did not immediately confirm the agreement. The reported attack directly contradicted Trump’s claim that an immediate halt to energy strikes had been secured, leaving his announcement without either clear confirmation from both sides or evidence of Russian compliance.
The episode followed Trump’s pressure on Ukraine to stop attacking Russian oil refineries and his announcement of a Russian diesel supply deal. Zelenskyy maintained that Ukraine would suspend its strikes only if Russia stopped targeting Ukrainian energy facilities. With Kyiv still awaiting details and Russian attacks continuing, Trump’s declaration amounted to an unconfirmed claim of a limited ceasefire, rather than an established peace agreement.