US President Donald Trump has declared an immediate "ENERGY CEASEFIRE" in the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine. In a post on Truth Social, Trump stated that both parties had reached an agreement, writing: "Effective immediately, there is an ENERGY CEASEFIRE in the War between Russia and Ukraine. Both parties have agreed. Do not break it!" The president provided no further details regarding the terms or the nature of the negotiations.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy responded to the announcement by stating it was "news to me." Speaking to the Axios website, Zelenskyy expressed surprise but indicated he would be willing to comply if Russian President Vladimir Putin reciprocated. "If President Trump negotiated it with Putin – please tell us when the ceasefire begins. We are ready and we will accept it," Zelenskyy said. Despite the US president's claim, there was no indication that the Kremlin was observing the ceasefire. Zelenskyy reported that Russian drones remained active "throughout the day" on Sunday, and that the country suffered several airstrikes, including hits on energy infrastructure.
This development follows a period of intense friction between Washington and Kyiv. The row began on Friday when Trump announced he was lifting sanctions on Russian diesel exports, a move he argued would lower fuel prices before the upcoming US midterm elections. Zelenskyy criticized the decision as "weak," warning that it would generate "billions" in revenue for Putin to intensify the war. In response, Trump demanded that Ukraine stop its strikes on Russian oil refineries and suggested that Ukraine needed a "new leader."
Zelenskyy countered that the choice of leadership is for the Ukrainian people to decide. He told ABC News that he would be willing to organize elections, but only if Putin agreed to a "total" 60-day ceasefire. Meanwhile, the Financial Times reported that the US is threatening to halt the weapons procurement system for Ukraine to pressure Kyiv into stopping its deep strikes on Russian energy complexes, which have recently targeted oil facilities, warehouses, and datacentres.
Oleksandr Merezhko, head of Ukraine’s foreign affairs committee, described Trump’s demand for Zelenskyy to step down as "bullying" that has paradoxically strengthened the president at home. Merezhko argued that Trump’s actions suggest he views Ukraine as an obstacle to be removed in order to "do business with Putin," comparing the situation to the 1939 Molotov-Ribbentrop pact. He warned that a cutoff of US intelligence sharing would "blind" Ukraine’s air defenses, calling such a move "complicity with Putin’s genocide."
The diplomatic tension was further highlighted when Ukrainian officials, who were in Florida meeting with Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, left early after being blindsided by the diesel sanctions announcement. On Sunday, Zelenskyy held discussions with international allies, including Canada’s Mark Carney, Poland’s Donald Tusk, and European Commission President Ursula von der Lyen, to shore up support. UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham also expressed solidarity, with Downing Street stating that the leaders agreed to maintain pressure on Russia and strengthen sanctions, while calling for an end to strikes on Ukrainian infrastructure and Black Sea shipping.
Russia’s own bombing campaign has been relentless. On Saturday it killed 23 people in the city of Zaporizhzhia, including four children, and hit a five-storey apartment block in the frontline town of Sloviansk. Zelenskyy said Moscow’s aerial campaign involved thousands of aerial bombs and jet-powered drones. It continu
Earlier Zelenskyy spoke with the UK prime minister, Andy Burnham, France’s president, Emmanuel Macron, and the Finnish president, Alexander Stubb. Downing Street said Burnham recognised the last 24 hours had been “difficult” for Ukraine and “reiterated his complete solidarity”.
