Ukraine has accused Russia of ignoring an unexpected truce on energy infrastructure attacks announced by Donald Trump, with no formal agreement appearing to be in place despite the U.S. president’s claims.
Trump’s announcement of a pause on strikes on energy infrastructure prompted confusion given that there was no confirmation from either Kyiv or Moscow that such a deal had been agreed to.
Ukraine has been using drones to target Russian oil facilities to hit the country’s most lucrative export and choke its military machine.
Trump has criticized Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky for attacking Russian oil refineries and unilaterally announced the energy truce as he battles with high energy prices in the U.S., a politically sensitive topic ahead of next month’s midterm elections.
...
However, Zelensky said Tuesday that while Kyiv had not targeted Russia’s oil refineries or energy infrastructure, Russia ignored the ceasefire that Trump announced.
“Moscow might be more open to an energy truce if Ukraine can blunt Russian strike capabilities,” John Hardie, deputy director of the Russia program at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, told Newsweek.
Newsweek has contacted the White House for comment.
How Did Russia and Ukraine Respond to Trump’s Truce Claim?
Trump said on Truth Social that an “energy ceasefire” between Ukraine and Russia was “effective immediately.”
When asked if both sides had backed this plan, Trump told reporters that "they agreed," adding, "do you know why? Because I said they agreed. That's why."
Despite Trump’s statement, Russian forces have continued with their attacks on Ukrainian energy sites in a campaign that experts have said aim to pressure on Kyiv ahead of winter.
The attacks included a heat and power plant west of Kharkiv City, gas production infrastructure in the Kharkiv region and an oil depot in Sarny, Rivne Oblast region, according to Ukrainian and Russian sources.
Zelensky has said that Kyiv is ready for a full energy ceasefire but statements from Russian officials and Telegram channels suggest that Moscow has agreed no deal, the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) said.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Monday that Zelensky has not “earned a respite” from the war.
Meanwhile, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said it had nothing to say about Trump’s announcement, adding that Moscow has no interest in Zelensky’s proposal for a 60-day ceasefire to allow for elections.
The Kremlin repeatedly portrays Zelensky as an illegitimate leader given that his presidential term has expired, although martial law imposed because of the war precludes an election in Ukraine.
The Kremlin’s statements combined with continuing strikes against Ukrainian energy infrastructure “confirm that no ceasefire exists and that Moscow has so far rejected the terms of the proposed ceasefire that Trump announced,” the ISW said.
Meanwhile, Trump’s decision to ease sanctions on Russian diesel to lessen pressure on energy prices in the U.S. has been condemned by Kyiv and its allies as handing Moscow more funds for its aggression.
Hardie said the deal could have been tied to a pause on energy infrastructure strikes as Trump said.
“While the United States has a legitimate interest in reducing diesel prices, a temporary sanctions waiver for Russian diesel exports would make more sense as an inducement for a mutual truce between Russia and Ukraine barring strikes on energy infrastructure,” Hardie said.
“The White House had said it was attempting to broker such a truce, but its approach to the diesel deal has now undercut those efforts.”
Meanwhile, the Trump administration has threatened senior Ukrainian military and government officials to curtail intelligence sharing in a push to protect Russian oil refineries, the Kyiv Independent reported.
“It's no wonder that the Kremlin is now resisting the White House's request to resume trilateral talks with Ukraine,” Hardie added.
Contact Newsweek editors on this story: Matthew Robinson and Dave Siminoff.