US President Donald Trump announced on Sunday that Russia and Ukraine have agreed to an energy ceasefire with immediate effect, urging both sides to respect it. "Effective immediately, there is an ENERGY CEASEFIRE in the War between Russia and Ukraine. Both parties have agreed. Do not break it!" Trump wrote on Truth Social. In his announcement, Trump did not specify the truce's duration, the facilities it covers or how compliance will be monitored. The message concerns the energy sector specifically and makes no reference to a general ceasefire, CNN Greece reported. Neither Kyiv nor the Kremlin immediately issued formal statements confirming the terms or start time of the arrangement, the Kyiv Post reported. Trump made a similar announcement last month that the two countries had agreed not to strike energy targets, but strikes took place the following day, TVP World noted.
Zelenskyy offers elections for a 60-day truce
Shortly before Trump's announcement, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Ukraine is ready to call elections if Russia agrees to a full 60-day ceasefire, responding to Trump's remarks on Saturday that Ukraine needs a new president. Trump had also accused Zelenskyy of failing to seize opportunities to reach a deal with Moscow. In an exclusive interview with Jonathan Karl on ABC News' "This Week", Zelenskyy called on Trump to secure Russian President Vladimir Putin's commitment to a two-month truce. "Please tell Putin, give us two months, 60 days of total ceasefire, and we will organise elections," he said.
Refinery strikes conditional on Russia
In the same interview, Zelenskyy defended Ukraine's strikes on Russian refineries as a response to Moscow's continuing attacks on Ukraine's energy infrastructure. He said he had repeatedly told Trump and his team that Ukraine wants peace and is ready for a ceasefire and any first step towards de-escalation, but insisted that any halt to attacks must be mutual, urging Washington to press Russia to stop targeting Ukrainian energy facilities. If Russia wants Ukraine to stop hitting its diesel and refineries, he said, Trump should send Moscow the message not to attack Ukraine's energy infrastructure or kill Ukrainian children, adding that Ukraine would then stop striking Russian diesel facilities, which he described as a fair deal.
Source: CNN, ABC News, Kyiv Post, TVP World
