Zelensky Backs Trump’s ‘Energy Ceasefire’ Proposal as Russia Remains Silent

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has expressed support for an energy ceasefire announced by US President Donald Trump, calling on Russia to accept the arrangement as Kyiv awaits further details from Washington.

Zelenskyy said Ukraine supported the proposed halt to attacks on energy infrastructure and stressed that Moscow must also commit to the arrangement. He added that Kyiv was waiting for details from the American side, leaving uncertainty over when the proposed ceasefire might begin and how compliance would be monitored.

Trump announced on Sunday, October 11, that Russia and Ukraine had agreed to an immediate “energy ceasefire”, declaring in a post on his Truth Social platform that both sides had accepted the arrangement. However, he provided no details about the terms or how the agreement had been reached.

The announcement initially caught Kyiv by surprise. Zelenskyy told Axios that Trump’s declaration was news to him, but indicated that Ukraine would agree to an energy truce if Russia also committed to stopping its attacks on Ukrainian energy facilities.

Russia had not publicly commented on Trump’s announcement at the time of reporting, and there was no independent confirmation that Moscow had formally accepted the proposed ceasefire.

Before Trump’s announcement, Zelenskyy had reiterated that Ukraine was prepared to stop attacking Russian oil refineries if Moscow halted strikes against Ukraine’s energy infrastructure. He said any de-escalation had to be reciprocal and backed by credible guarantees.

The issue has become increasingly urgent as Russia continues to target Ukrainian power facilities and other critical infrastructure, while Ukraine has expanded drone attacks against Russian oil refineries and other facilities it says support Moscow’s war effort.

Recent Russian strikes have caused power disruptions in Kyiv and other parts of Ukraine, raising concerns about electricity and heating supplies as winter approaches. Ukrainian officials have repeatedly accused Moscow of deliberately targeting infrastructure essential to civilian life.

The ceasefire proposal comes amid growing tensions between Trump and Zelenskyy over the conduct of the war. Trump has criticised Ukraine’s attacks on Russian refineries and has urged Kyiv to stop them, while Zelenskyy insists that Russia must halt its own strikes before Ukraine agrees to suspend its campaign.

The US president’s announcement could provide an opening for renewed diplomatic efforts, but the absence of publicly confirmed terms from both governments leaves key questions unanswered. These include whether the arrangement covers all energy facilities, how alleged violations would be handled and whether either side would face consequences for breaking the truce.

For Ukraine, the central condition remains reciprocity. For the proposal to become a functioning ceasefire, Moscow will need to clarify its position and both sides will need to demonstrate that attacks on energy infrastructure have stopped.

Until Russia responds and the terms are confirmed, the announcement remains a potential step towards de-escalation rather than a verified, fully implemented agreement.