US President Donald Trump announced an immediate energy ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine on Sunday, prompting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to state the agreement was entirely news to him while expressing readiness to accept the halt if Moscow genuinely complies.
United States President Donald Trump posted on his Truth Social network that an energy ceasefire had been reached in the war between Russia and Ukraine.
Zelenskyy Learns of Truce From White House Post
Interviewed by Axios, he noted that the sudden directive arrived without prior consultation.
The ceasefire announcement was news for me. But if Russians agree to an energy ceasefire Ukraine will agree.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy, President of Ukraine, via The Guardian
Zelenskyy later expanded on his position via the Telegram messaging app, confirming that he had conferred with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, and Finnish President Alex Stubb regarding the American declaration.
Ukraine supports the ceasefire, and it is important that Russia support it as well. We are awaiting details from the American side.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy, President of Ukraine, via Yahoo
European Capitals React to Washington Proclamation
French President Emmanuel Macron declared that France backs a real energy ceasefire while noting that diesel prices stand at €2.25 per litre. Macron observed that Moscow continues to reject restraint by intensifying strikes on Ukrainian utility grids, and affirmed that France will continue to stand alongside Ukraine and President Zelenskyy.
Sanctions Lifted as Bombs Hit Zaporizhzhia
Zelenskyy warned that easing restrictions meant more dead civilians and dead children, pointing out that Russia responded to the diesel deal by dropping five glide bombs on residential buildings in Zaporizhzhia.
The surprise energy truce follows a bitter public dispute between Washington and Kyiv triggered by the temporary lifting of sanctions on Russian diesel exports by the White House. Russian military strikes continued across Ukraine, and Ukrainian officials reported that energy sites across the country sustained fresh damage throughout the weekend.
Zelenskyy Outlines Terms for Elections
Zelenskyy told ABC News that he would organize national elections if Russian President Vladimir Putin agrees to a total 60-day ceasefire.
Before Trump’s sudden energy ceasefire declaration, Zelenskyy had signaled willingness to halt refinery strikes against Russia if the Kremlin reciprocated by ending attacks on Ukrainian power networks. In interviews on US television, the Ukrainian leader stated that both sides were ready for an energy ceasefire and open to halting attacks on energy infrastructure. Regarding domestic leadership calls from Washington, Zelenskyy maintained that it is up to Ukrainians to determine their leaders.