President Donald Trump announced an immediate energy ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine, stating that both countries have agreed to halt attacks on each other's energy infrastructure. The announcement, made on Truth Social, comes after weeks of escalating tensions over strikes on oil refineries and power plants.
«Effective immediately, there is an ENERGY CEASEFIRE in the War between Russia and Ukraine. Both parties have agreed. Do not break it!» Trump wrote. He did not provide further details about the agreement, and it was not immediately clear how it would be monitored or enforced.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, however, appeared to be caught off guard. According to reports, Zelenskyy called the announcement «news for me,» suggesting he was not informed in advance. The White House did not immediately respond to requests for comment, and neither the Ukrainian nor Russian embassies in Washington had confirmed the ceasefire at the time of the announcement.
The development follows a contentious week in U.S.-Ukraine relations. Trump has intensified pressure on Zelenskyy to stop targeting Russian oil refineries, arguing that the attacks have disrupted global diesel supplies and contributed to higher fuel prices for American consumers. The issue has become increasingly urgent as diesel prices weigh on American farmers, truckers, and businesses that rely on the fuel to transport goods and operate heavy equipment.
Trump has repeatedly criticized Ukraine's strikes on Russian energy facilities, even as Kyiv maintains that targeting Moscow's oil industry is a legitimate strategy to weaken Russia's ability to finance its war. The dispute escalated Saturday when Trump suggested Ukraine should replace Zelenskyy with a leader more willing to negotiate an end to the war. «I suggest they get a new leader who can make a deal,» Trump told reporters.
The announcement also follows a deal Trump struck with Russian President Vladimir Putin to allow Russian diesel exports to reach American and global markets. Under the agreement announced Friday, Russia would immediately supply more than 300,000 tons of diesel, with additional shipments expected in November and beyond. The Treasury Department authorized temporary sanctions relief to facilitate the supplies. Trump argued the move would help bring down fuel prices, while Zelenskyy criticized it as a concession to Moscow that could provide additional revenue for Russia's war effort.
Zelenskyy has maintained that Ukraine would be willing to halt attacks on Russian oil refineries if Moscow agreed to stop targeting Ukrainian power plants and other critical infrastructure. The two countries have increasingly targeted each other's energy systems throughout the war, though the consequences have differed. Russian strikes on Ukraine's power grid have left civilians facing electricity disruptions and damaged infrastructure needed to heat homes and sustain businesses. Ukrainian attacks on Russian refineries have disrupted fuel production and exports, putting additional pressure on global energy markets.
The Trump administration has spent weeks attempting to negotiate a reciprocal halt to energy attacks as part of broader diplomatic efforts to end the war. In September, Trump similarly announced that both countries had agreed to an energy ceasefire, although Moscow did not publicly confirm the agreement and attacks continued.
The latest announcement raises the possibility of renewed diplomatic progress, but an energy ceasefire would not amount to a comprehensive agreement to end the fighting. It remains unclear whether the deal will hold, given the lack of public confirmation from Moscow and Kyiv and the absence of details on monitoring or enforcement.