Donald Trump announced an "energy ceasefire" between Russia and Ukraine that he said took effect immediately, though he provided no details. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed surprise at the claim but said Kyiv would support it if Russia agreed. Moscow has not commented.
Zelensky later accused Russia of violating the ceasefire by striking a power plant in Kyiv with a drone and hitting energy facilities in the Kharkiv region, all occurring after Trump's announcement. "All of this happened after the president of the United States made his statement about an energy ceasefire," Zelensky said.
The announcement ties to a separate Trump-brokered deal temporarily lifting sanctions on Russian diesel imports. Trump has been urging Ukraine to stop striking Russian oil infrastructure to allow Moscow to fulfill this agreement. Zelensky has called the diesel deal "a gift to Russian President Vladimir Putin." The ceasefire claim appears designed to support that arrangement by halting Ukrainian attacks on Russian energy assets.
UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham, France, Canada, and the EU expressed support for Trump's energy ceasefire call. However, criticism of the diesel deal mounted from multiple quarters. UK Defence Secretary Wes Streeting said Britain did not support it. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas echoed Zelensky's criticism.
Seven US senators, including three Democrats and four Republicans, published a statement saying the diesel deal "runs directly counter" to a law banning Russian energy imports. "Congress was clear: the US should not import oil from Russia until it ends its aggression against Ukraine and ceases threats against our NATO Allies," they wrote, urging the Trump administration to reverse course. Republican Senator Thom Tillis told NBC News the deal "absolutely will" put American lives at risk.
Trump justified the diesel arrangement as an effort to lower domestic fuel prices ahead of midterm elections. High fuel prices, particularly for diesel, have contributed to broader inflation and damaged Trump's standing with voters affected by higher pump costs.
Tensions between Trump and Zelensky escalated. On Saturday, Trump accused Zelensky of wanting to "make problems for the world" by authorizing attacks on Russian refineries and suggested it was "time for Ukraine to get a new president." Zelensky pledged to hold elections if Russia agreed to a 60-day total ceasefire, though Ukrainian law suspends elections during wartime.
Fighting continues across Ukraine. Six people were killed in attacks on two Ukrainian cities Sunday, regional officials said.