In a controversial claim, former President Donald Trump announced on Sunday that Ukraine and Russia have reached an “energy ceasefire” amid their ongoing conflict. This assertion was met with skepticism, as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy responded that the announcement was “news for me.” The lack of confirmation from Moscow only added to the ambiguity surrounding Trump’s statement.
This isn’t the first time Trump has made such a declaration; a month ago, he proclaimed a similar ceasefire, yet hostilities continued, with both nations conducting airstrikes on each other’s energy infrastructure.
On his Truth Social platform, Trump declared, “Effective immediately, there is an ENERGY CEASEFIRE in the War between Russia and Ukraine,” urging both parties to adhere to this agreement. However, details regarding the specifics of the ceasefire were not provided.
Zelenskyy, speaking to Axios, indicated that he was unaware of any ceasefire agreement but expressed openness to a deal if it were indeed negotiated by Trump with Russian President Vladimir Putin. “If President Trump negotiated it with Putin — please tell us when the ceasefire begins — we are ready and we will accept it,” he stated.
The announcement follows a tumultuous period in which Trump advocated for a diesel deal with the Kremlin and suggested that Kyiv should halt its attacks on Russian oil facilities. His calls for a change in Ukraine’s leadership also raised eyebrows among Kyiv and its European allies.
On Friday, the U.S. agreed to lift sanctions on Russian fuel, a move Trump claimed would result in Russia releasing 300,000 tons of diesel to the global market, with further shipments expected in the following months.
In light of these developments, Zelenskyy reiterated his willingness to stop attacks on Russian refineries if the Kremlin reciprocates by ceasing its assaults on Ukrainian energy sites. He emphasized that the decision on leadership in Ukraine is one for its citizens to make, countering Trump’s suggestion for change.
This situation continues to evolve, with Zelenskyy asserting that the rise in fuel prices cannot solely be attributed to Ukraine’s actions, as the ongoing conflict in the Middle East also plays a significant role in the global fuel market.
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