Zelensky: Trump's Energy Truce Announcement Was News to Kyiv
US President Donald Trump announced that Ukraine and Russia had agreed to stop striking energy facilities, but Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he had not been informed. Kyiv is ready for a truce if Moscow joins it.
US President Donald Trump said on social media on Sunday, 11 October, that Russia and Ukraine had agreed to immediately stop striking each other's energy infrastructure. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said the announcement came as a surprise, but stressed that Ukraine is prepared to take such a step if Russia does the same. The issue matters because energy facilities on both sides have been targets in the Russia-Ukraine war.
Initially, neither Kyiv nor Moscow had confirmed any agreement. According to Reuters, Ukraine's position has been consistent: it would stop attacking Russian oil refineries if Russia halted strikes on Ukrainian electricity, heating and other energy infrastructure. Zelensky stressed that de-escalation steps must be mutual and backed by real guarantees. In effect, he asked Washington to explain when the agreement takes effect and what exactly Russia has committed to do.
Preceded by a sharp exchange
The announcement followed a tense public exchange. Trump had criticised Ukrainian attacks on Russian oil refineries, linking them to rising diesel prices, and publicly said it was time for Ukraine to have a new president. In an interview with ABC News, Zelensky disagreed: in his view, the main causes of higher fuel prices are the war in the Middle East and problems with energy supplies through the Strait of Hormuz. He also said it is easier for Washington to pressure Kyiv than to win concessions from Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Zelensky recalled that Ukraine's president is chosen by Ukrainian society. He said he would be ready to hold elections during the war if Russia agreed to a 60-day ceasefire to provide security conditions. The idea of an energy truce was not new to him: on 22 September, after talking to Trump, he said Ukraine was ready for an energy truce in any format.
Support and open questions
Later on Sunday, Zelensky said Ukraine supports a genuine energy truce and is waiting for concrete information from the US on its terms. French President Emmanuel Macron and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen have voiced similar positions; Macron noted that Russian strikes on Ukrainian infrastructure are continuing.
At the time of publication, the White House statement gave no details on the mechanism of the agreement, monitoring of violations or guarantees, and Russia had not publicly confirmed the deal.
