Zelenskyy: Ukraine ready for Trump's announced energy ceasefire, but Kharkiv energy facility has just been hit
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Ukraine is ready to refrain from striking Russian energy infrastructure, but Russia has not halted its attacks. A Kharkiv combined heat and power plant was hit during his address.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in his evening address on 11 October that Ukraine is prepared to refrain from striking Russian energy infrastructure and expects the same from Russia. His remarks followed US President Donald Trump's announcement of an immediate "energy ceasefire" between the two countries, under which both sides would stop attacking energy facilities. According to Zelenskyy, Russia has nonetheless continued its attacks.
Attacks continue
Zelenskyy said Russian "Shahed" drones had been in Ukrainian skies throughout the day and were still present during his address. Glide bombs were also used, and Ukrainian energy infrastructure was struck. While he was speaking, CHP-5, a combined heat and power plant in Kharkiv, was hit.
The president noted that in the past week alone Russia carried out more than 200 strikes on power generation and transmission facilities, with another 17 targeting gas and oil facilities. In that week, he said, more than 150 Ukrainians were killed and over 700 injured.
Appeal to Russia
Zelenskyy said Ukraine had proposed many de-escalatory steps, to which Vladimir Putin had answered "nyet." He expressed hope that the Russian leader would finally say something different to the US, Ukraine and the world, rather than continue killings and deception. In his words, Ukraine wants peace, and the question is whether Russia does.
He said Ukraine's Armed Forces have received all the appropriate orders. Kyiv is awaiting clear details of the dialogue between the US and Russia and expects Putin to follow through on what Trump said.
Background
On 11 October, Trump claimed that Ukraine and Russia had agreed to an immediate energy ceasefire. Barak Ravid, a journalist at the US news portal Axios, reported that Zelenskyy had been unaware of the arrangement but was willing to agree to it. Zelenskyy later confirmed Ukraine's support and said it was waiting for details from Washington. Russia has not yet commented on Trump's statement.
