US President Donald Trump insisted Monday, Oct. 12, that Russia and Ukraine had agreed to halt attacks on each other’s energy infrastructure simply because he told them to, despite neither Kyiv nor Moscow confirming any agreement and Russian strikes continuing against Ukrainian facilities.
Speaking to reporters outside the White House before departing for Ohio, Trump was challenged over his announcement of an energy ceasefire the previous day, which appeared to catch both governments by surprise.
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“They agreed. You know why? Because I said, ‘You agree’ – that’s why,” Trump replied.
“They agreed because I said they agreed, and that thing has to get settled,” he added.
The exchange followed Trump’s Sunday announcement that the two countries had agreed to stop targeting each other’s energy infrastructure immediately, although he provided no details about the arrangement or how it would be enforced.
Trump questions reports of Russian ceasefire violations
Asked about Russian strikes on Ukrainian energy facilities after his announcement, Trump said he was uncertain whether Moscow had violated the supposed agreement.
“I’m not sure about that,” he said, before urging both leaders to bring the war to an end.
Trump also suggested that violations had occurred on both sides, without providing evidence or identifying specific incidents.
When reporters pressed him on whether Russian President Vladimir Putin had actually accepted the proposal, Trump insisted that both leaders supported the idea.
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“I think they both support it. I think they wanna make a deal, but they don’t know how. But we’re gonna get them to make a deal,” he said.
He then suggested Putin was more willing to negotiate than President Volodymyr Zelensky.
“I think, actually, Putin wants to make a deal more than Zelensky,” Trump said.
Zelensky says Russian strikes continue despite Trump’s announcement
Earlier Monday, Zelensky said Russian forces had attacked Ukrainian energy infrastructure after Trump’s announcement, including a power plant in Kharkiv and a gas-production facility.
Speaking by video link at the Warsaw Security Forum, Zelensky said Ukrainian forces had refrained from striking Russian refineries overnight, but Moscow had not reciprocated.
Ukraine was ready to observe an energy ceasefire if Russia did the same, he said, urging Washington to ensure Moscow complied with any agreement.
In his official address, Zelensky said Russian drone attacks continued over Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities after Trump’s declaration.
The Kremlin had not confirmed accepting Trump’s proposal, and no jointly agreed ceasefire terms or monitoring arrangements had been announced.
Trump defends diesel deal with Moscow
Trump’s insistence that an energy ceasefire was in place came amid growing criticism of his administration’s agreement to allow Russian diesel exports.
Announced after a conversation with Putin on Friday, Oct. 9, the arrangement temporarily eased US sanctions on Russian diesel imports as Washington sought to relieve pressure on fuel prices.
The decision drew objections from Democratic and Republican lawmakers, who warned that additional energy revenues could help finance Russia’s war against Ukraine.
Trump defended the arrangement Monday, arguing that European governments continued purchasing Russian energy while criticizing Washington’s decision.
A bipartisan group of seven US senators had urged the administration to reverse course, warning against providing Moscow with additional financial resources while Russian attacks on Ukrainian civilians continued.
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