WASHINGTON, DC / EuroWire / – U.S. President Donald Trump asserted that Russia and Ukraine had reached an agreement to halt attacks on each other’s energy infrastructure. The announcement of the “energy ceasefire” came on Sunday, with Trump stating it would be effective immediately. No specific terms, timeline, monitoring arrangements, or list of protected sites were provided. By early Monday, Moscow had not publicly validated the agreement. Ukraine expressed support for a reciprocal pause but was still awaiting further details from the United States.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy responded positively to the idea of an energy ceasefire, emphasizing it needed to materialize. He stated Ukraine was prepared to cease strikes on Russian energy facilities if Russia demonstrated similar willingness. Zelenskyy also mentioned that Kyiv was waiting for clear details from discussions between Washington and Moscow. Ukraine’s government maintained communication with U.S. officials, while Zelenskyy engaged with several European and NATO partners about the ongoing developments.
Energy attacks persist following Trump’s ceasefire declaration
On Sunday, Zelenskyy reported continued airstrikes by Russian forces after Trump’s announcement. Specifically, he mentioned an attack on the CHP-5 combined heat and power plant in Kharkiv. Ukrainian officials confirmed the strike took place after Trump’s statement. Zelenskyy also noted that Russian drones and glide bombs remained active over Ukraine throughout the day. His office further reported that Russian forces conducted over 200 strikes against Ukrainian electricity generation and transmission sites during the previous week.
Additionally, the Ukrainian president indicated that 17 Russian strikes targeted gas and oil facilities during that same period. Earlier on Sunday, Zelenskyy stated Ukraine would cease attacking Russian refineries if Moscow halted its strikes against Ukraine’s energy infrastructure. Trump had previously urged Kyiv to stop targeting Russian oil infrastructure before announcing the ceasefire. The recent statement also followed a U.S.-Russia diesel supply agreement, which Trump revealed on Friday amidst rising global fuel prices.
Moscow has yet to verify Trump’s energy ceasefire assertion
In September, Trump claimed that Russia and Ukraine had agreed not to attack each other’s energy infrastructure, but neither side officially confirmed that arrangement, and hostilities persisted. The current declaration again centers on energy targets rather than a comprehensive ceasefire across the front lines. Throughout the war, both Russia and Ukraine have maintained long-range drone and missile operations, with energy facilities frequently targeted on both sides.
As of Monday, Moscow had not publicly confirmed the latest energy ceasefire nor clarified which facilities might be included. Ukraine supported the idea of a mutual halt, stating its armed forces received instructions following Trump’s announcement. Zelenskyy expressed hope that Russia would abide by the arrangement outlined by the U.S. president. Public statements so far did not establish a joint monitoring or enforcement mechanism, nor specify the duration of the ceasefire.