Trump Announces Energy Ceasefire as Russian and Ukrainian Infrastructure Remains Under Fire

US President Donald Trump has claimed that Ukraine and Russia have agreed to an immediate ceasefire covering attacks on energy infrastructure, but uncertainty remains over whether Moscow and Kyiv have formally accepted the arrangement.

Trump made the announcement on Sunday, October 11, in a post on his Truth Social platform, declaring that an “ENERGY CEASEFIRE” was effective immediately and insisting that both sides had agreed to it. He provided no details about the terms, how the agreement was negotiated or what mechanisms would be used to monitor compliance.

Ukraine, however, indicated that it had not been formally informed of any completed agreement. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told Axios that Trump’s announcement was the first he had heard of the deal, while a senior Ukrainian official told Reuters that Kyiv was prepared to accept an energy truce if Russia agreed to do the same.

Earlier on Sunday, Zelenskyy said Ukraine was willing to stop attacking Russian oil refineries if Moscow halted its strikes on Ukrainian energy infrastructure, including electricity and heating facilities. He stressed that any arrangement would need to be reciprocal and backed by credible guarantees.

The announcement follows weeks of escalating attacks on energy infrastructure on both sides. Ukraine has intensified long-range drone strikes against Russian refineries, seeking to disrupt fuel supplies and undermine Moscow’s ability to finance and sustain its war effort. Russia, meanwhile, has continued attacks on Ukrainian cities and critical infrastructure.

The dispute over energy attacks has also become entangled with US efforts to reduce fuel prices. Trump has criticised Ukraine’s strikes on Russian refineries, arguing that they have contributed to pressure on global diesel supplies and prices. On Friday, he announced an agreement with Russian President Vladimir Putin for Russia to release diesel onto international markets, a move that drew criticism from Kyiv.

Trump’s latest announcement comes after he renewed criticism of Zelenskyy on Saturday, arguing that Ukraine should have a different leader capable of reaching a deal with Moscow. Zelenskyy responded that Ukraine remained willing to pursue a reciprocal halt to attacks on energy facilities, while maintaining that Russia was responsible for launching the full-scale invasion in 2022.

A verified energy ceasefire could reduce damage to power stations, refineries and other critical facilities ahead of winter, when heating and electricity supplies become particularly important for civilians. However, previous efforts to halt attacks on energy infrastructure have failed to produce a sustained cessation of strikes, and the parties have continued to accuse each other of violations.

Neither the Kremlin nor the Ukrainian government had publicly confirmed a final agreement matching Trump’s announcement at the time of reporting. It therefore remains unclear whether a ceasefire has formally taken effect or whether further negotiations are required.

The latest development could offer an opening for renewed diplomacy, but its credibility will depend on confirmation from both governments and whether attacks on energy infrastructure actually stop.