US President Donald Trump announced an energy ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine, effective immediately, on Sunday. However, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy stated he was waiting for more details about the agreement and mentioned that there had been no communication from Moscow regarding the announcement. Trump’s push for Ukraine to stop attacking Russian oil refineries comes amid rising diesel prices affecting the Republican Party ahead of the upcoming midterm elections.
Trump criticized Zelenskiy for not striking a deal with Moscow in the past and warned him to stop attacks on Russian refineries. He posted on his Truth Social platform that both nations agreed to the ceasefire and urged them not to violate it. Although Trump previously announced a similar ceasefire in September, it was never confirmed. Zelenskiy responded to Trump’s announcement by saying that Ukraine supports the ceasefire, but only if Russia also commits to it. He emphasized the need for real guarantees for any agreement to be valid.
Zelenskiy reiterated that he would consider stopping attacks on Russian infrastructure if President Putin ended the strikes on Ukrainian power facilities. He pointed out that Russia is the root cause of the conflict. Trump also called for elections in Ukraine, which have been suspended since the Russian invasion in 2022. Zelenskiy stated that he would consider organizing elections if there was a 60-day ceasefire.
Zelenskiy pushed back on claims of responsibility for rising energy prices, attributing the larger issue to the conflict in the Middle East. As global diesel prices surged after the onset of war in Iran, concerns grew about its impact on the political landscape in the US. Trump’s recent diesel supply deal with Russia was met with skepticism, with analysts doubting that it would significantly reduce fuel prices.
Concerns arose in Kyiv over Trump’s suggestions for Ukraine to find new leadership to negotiate with Putin, with residents expressing anger over external interference in their situation. Zelenskiy continued discussions with European leaders about enhancing air defense measures and there was an upcoming EU Foreign Affairs Council meeting to discuss increased sanctions on Russia and Ukraine’s EU membership negotiations.
With information from Reuters
