Trump announced the proposed truce on his Truth Social platform, claiming that Russia and Ukraine had agreed to stop attacks on energy facilities with immediate effect.
“Effective immediately, there is an ENERGY CEASEFIRE in the War between Russia and Ukraine. Both parties have agreed. Do not break it!” Trump wrote.
However, the announcement appeared to take Ukraine by surprise, with Zelensky initially telling US news outlet Axios that the agreement was “news for me”.
The Ukrainian president subsequently confirmed his support for the proposal, stating that Kyiv was prepared to suspend attacks on Russian energy infrastructure if Moscow also stopped targeting Ukraine’s energy facilities.
“Ukraine supports the ceasefire, and it is important that Russia support it as well,” Zelensky wrote on X, adding that his government was awaiting further details from the American side.
Zelensky Calls on Putin to Accept Energy Truce
In a separate statement published on Telegram, Zelensky reiterated Ukraine’s readiness to stop striking Russian energy infrastructure and urged Russian President Vladimir Putin to reciprocate.
“We count on Russia’s similar readiness and on the agreement of the President of the United States of America on this. We welcome such an agreement,” he said.
Zelensky stressed that Ukrainian forces would continue defending the country while the government awaited clarification of the discussions between Washington and Moscow.
At the time of reporting, Russia had not publicly confirmed its acceptance of the proposed ceasefire, leaving questions about whether both countries had formally agreed to the arrangement and how it would be implemented.
The proposal comes as the war continues to affect energy facilities and other critical infrastructure in both countries, following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
Recent Attacks Raise Questions About Ceasefire Prospects
The proposed energy truce comes amid continued violence and attacks on infrastructure.
A reported Russian attack in Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia region killed 23 people, including four children, according to the information provided in the report. Separately, Ukrainian drones struck a data centre operated by Russian technology company Yandex near Moscow, prompting the company to suspend operations at the facility.
The incidents highlight the difficulties involved in securing a lasting halt to attacks, even when diplomatic efforts are underway.
French President Emmanuel Macron expressed support for a genuine ceasefire covering energy infrastructure but accused Russia of intensifying attacks on Ukrainian facilities.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen also backed efforts to protect energy infrastructure and global food supplies from the effects of the conflict.
Trump-Zelensky Tensions Over Russian Diesel Deal
The announcement followed renewed tensions between Trump and Zelensky over a reported US arrangement to import Russian diesel.
Zelensky reportedly criticised the arrangement as a “gift” to Russian President Putin, while Trump responded by saying it was time for Ukraine to have a new president.
Trump has also argued that the war has contributed to rising global fuel prices, putting pressure on his administration to reduce energy costs in the United States.
The dispute underscores the differences between Washington and Kyiv over approaches to ending the war, energy supplies and negotiations with Moscow.
Previous Energy Ceasefire Efforts Faced Challenges
The latest proposal comes against the background of earlier efforts to stop attacks on energy infrastructure.
Previous attempts to establish similar arrangements have struggled to prevent reciprocal strikes. The supplied report also refers to an earlier announcement by Trump in September that both sides had agreed not to target each other’s energy facilities.
Zelensky has repeatedly indicated that Ukraine would be willing to stop attacking Russian oil refineries if Moscow halted strikes on Ukrainian energy infrastructure, describing such an arrangement as a fair step towards reducing hostilities.
Whether the latest proposal will lead to a sustained reduction in attacks remains uncertain. Its implementation will depend on the positions taken by Russia and Ukraine, the terms communicated by Washington and the ability of the parties to comply with the proposed restrictions.
For now, Kyiv has publicly welcomed the initiative but says it is awaiting further details, while Russia’s formal position remains a key unanswered question.
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