US President Donald Trump has announced an immediate energy ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine, effective immediately. In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump declared that both parties had agreed to the ceasefire, covering attacks on energy infrastructure. However, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky initially expressed surprise at the announcement, telling US news outlet Axios that it was "news for me".
Later, Zelensky confirmed Ukraine's support for the proposed ceasefire, stating that Kyiv was prepared to stop attacking Russian energy facilities if Russia also halted strikes on Ukrainian energy infrastructure. In a statement on X, Zelensky emphasized that Ukraine supports the ceasefire and that it is crucial for Russia to do the same. He added that Kyiv was awaiting further details from the American side on the agreement.
Zelensky reiterated Ukraine's readiness not to strike Russian energy infrastructure and called on Russian President Vladimir Putin to reciprocate. He stated that Ukraine had proposed several de-escalation measures in the past but accused Putin of repeatedly rejecting them. Ukrainian forces would continue defending the country while Kyiv awaited clear details of Washington's discussions with Moscow.
At the time of reporting, Russia had not publicly commented on Trump's announcement, leaving uncertainty over whether both sides had formally agreed to the proposed truce and how it would be implemented. The announcement came amid continued attacks on energy and other infrastructure in both countries, as the war entered its third year following Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
Recent strikes have underscored the challenges facing any ceasefire. A Russian attack in Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia region killed 23 people, including four children, while Ukrainian drones struck a data centre operated by Russian technology company Yandex near Moscow, prompting the company to suspend operations at the facility.
French President Emmanuel Macron and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen expressed support for a genuine energy truce. Macron accused Russia of intensifying attacks on Ukrainian infrastructure, while von der Leyen emphasized the need to protect energy infrastructure and global food supplies.
The proposal followed renewed tensions between Trump and Zelensky over a reported US arrangement to import Russian diesel. The effectiveness of the proposed ceasefire remains uncertain, with previous efforts to halt attacks on energy facilities failing to stop reciprocal strikes.
Key points
- Ukraine supports the ceasefire and awaits Russia's confirmation.
- Previous ceasefire efforts have failed to stop reciprocal strikes.
- The war has contributed to rising global fuel prices.
