Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has stated that Russian forces continued to strike Ukrainian gas stations and energy infrastructure on Sunday, directly contradicting claims made by U.S. President Donald Trump regarding a bilateral energy ceasefire. Zelenskyy addressed the situation on the social media platform X, describing the ongoing attacks as a clear message from Moscow that they do not acknowledge any such agreement. While Zelenskyy later confirmed on Monday that Ukraine supports the concept of an energy ceasefire, he emphasized that there is currently no indication that Russia is complying with the conditions outlined by the American president, noting that further pressure is required for de-escalation to actually succeed.
President Trump had announced on his social media platform Sunday that both parties had agreed to a partial ceasefire, warning them not to break it, though he provided no specific details regarding the arrangement. In Moscow, the response was dismissive. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov rejected the proposal on Monday, characterizing it as another attempt by Zelenskyy to exploit a pause in the fighting to regroup and rearm. Lavrov stated that he does not believe the Ukrainian president deserves a respite. Meanwhile, the White House has not yet responded to requests for comment regarding the impact of the overnight strikes on the proposed ceasefire.
The conflict over energy infrastructure occurs alongside significant tension regarding a new U.S. policy. Last week, President Trump announced a plan to reduce domestic diesel prices by reviving imports from Russia, a move he described as part of his "America First" strategy, prioritizing U.S. interests over concerns about Russia's invasion of Ukraine. This proposal has faced strong bipartisan opposition in the U.S. Senate, with a group of senators releasing a statement calling the plan unlawful, noting that Congress explicitly banned Russian energy imports in 2022 to prevent American dollars from financing the war. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and President Zelenskyy have both condemned the decision, with Zelenskyy labeling it a "weak decision" and Carney stating the move is in direct opposition to international peace efforts.
Trump defended the move, noting that the European Union paid Russia $250 billion for energy and asserting that he made the right choice for the American people. According to the Russian news agency TASS, Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak has agreed to supply 300,000 tons of diesel to the U.S. in October, with monthly supplies expected to increase. The U.S. administration has issued a general license authorizing Russian diesel supplies to the global market until April 7, 2027.
Despite the ongoing energy tensions, Ukraine has engaged in its own offensive operations, including strikes against large data centers operated by Yandex inside Russia. These attacks resulted in service outages in parts of Russia. Zelenskyy remarked on Monday that the strikes on Yandex have also led to a drop in the number of Russian propaganda bots on social media, noting that many people observed less hate, less division, and fewer provocations.
A rescue worker puts out a fire at residential houses destroyed in a Russian strike on Kharkiv, Ukraine, Sunday, Oct. 11, 2026. Andrii Marienko/AP hide caption
An injured man collects his personal belongings in front of his house destroyed in a Russian strike on Kharkiv, Ukraine, Sunday, Oct. 11, 2026. Andrii Marienko/AP hide caption
