US President Donald Trump has announced an immediate ceasefire covering attacks on energy infrastructure in the Russia-Ukraine war, but Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says he was not informed of any agreement in advance. Moscow had not publicly confirmed the arrangement at the time of the announcement.
Trump made the announcement on Sunday, October 11, in a post on his Truth Social platform, declaring that both countries had agreed to stop attacks on energy facilities. He provided no details about the terms, duration or monitoring of the proposed truce.
The announcement followed several days of pressure from Trump on Kyiv to halt strikes against Russian oil refineries. The US president has blamed Ukrainian attacks on Russian energy infrastructure for contributing to rising diesel prices, a politically sensitive issue for his Republican Party ahead of November’s midterm elections.
Zelenskyy initially told Axios that Trump’s announcement was news to him. He later said Ukraine supported an energy ceasefire and was waiting for details from Washington.
“Ukraine supports the ceasefire, and it is important that Russia support it as well. We are awaiting details from the American side,” Zelenskyy said in a statement posted on Telegram.
The Ukrainian president subsequently made clear that Kyiv was prepared to stop striking Russian energy facilities if Moscow halted its attacks on Ukrainian energy infrastructure. He urged Washington to ensure that Russia observed the proposed truce rather than expecting Ukraine to suspend its operations unilaterally.
The announcement came a day after Trump sharply criticised Zelenskyy and called for Ukraine to choose a new president, arguing that the country needed a leader capable of reaching a deal with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Trump has repeatedly accused Zelenskyy of missing opportunities to negotiate an end to the war. His latest intervention has further strained relations between Washington and Kyiv, particularly over the US approach to Russian energy exports and sanctions.
According to media reports citing sources familiar with the discussions, Washington has also considered using intelligence-sharing and military procurement support as leverage to persuade Ukraine to stop attacking Russian refineries. The White House had not immediately commented on those reports.
The diplomatic dispute is unfolding alongside continued fighting. Ukrainian officials reported further Russian attacks on energy infrastructure after Trump announced the ceasefire, raising questions about whether the proposed arrangement had been agreed upon by both sides and how compliance would be ensured.
For now, the initiative remains uncertain: Trump has described the truce as effective immediately, while Ukraine is awaiting formal details and Russia has yet to publicly confirm its participation.
