Several power plants in Ukraine were struck by Russia hours after US President Donald Trump demanded an “energy ceasefire” between the two countries.
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A kyiv power plant was hit by a drone, leading to power outages in the capital, followed by strikes on Kharkiv’s energy infrastructure.
Earlier, Donald Trump said that Russia and Ukraine had agreed to end strikes on each other’s energy infrastructure.
“Effective immediately, there is an ENERGY CEASEFIRE in the war between Russia and Ukraine. Both sides agree. Don’t break it!” he wrote on his Truth Social network, without giving further details.
At the time, Zelenskyy said he was not informed about the energy ceasefire. “That was news to me. But if the Russians agree to an energy ceasefire, Ukraine will agree,” Zelensky told Axios.
kyiv’s allies were “awaiting the details” of the ceasefire on energy targets announced by US President Donald Trump. Russia has not confirmed any agreement.
“Waiting for details” on the ceasefire
“Ukraine supports the ceasefire, and it is important that Russia also supports it,” Zelensky said on his Facebook page before the Russian strikes on Ukrainian power plants.
“We are awaiting details from the United States. For its part, Ukraine remains FULLY supportive of de-escalation measures, protection of lives and decisions necessary to end the war and ensure lasting peace,” he said.
Emmanuel Macron said France supported a “real energy ceasefire” between Ukraine and Russia, with the price of diesel at €2.25/L.
“Currently, Russia continues to refuse this, recently further intensifying its strikes on Ukrainian infrastructure,” Macron said, adding: “France will continue to stand by Ukraine and President Zelensky.”
EU chief Ursula von der Leyen also expressed support for the Ukrainian president, saying she “fully supports President Zelensky’s call for a ceasefire that would protect global food supplies and energy infrastructure in Ukraine and Russia.”
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney was more critical of the deal, saying it undermined efforts for stability in Europe and could “provide additional revenue to Russia and help finance its illegal and unjustifiable war against Ukraine.”
There was no immediate confirmation from Russia of a deal, which follows an escalation of deadly attacks during the war. Its only response was strikes against Ukrainian power plants.
“If President Trump negotiated it with Putin, please tell us when the ceasefire will start. We are ready and we will accept it,” Zelenskyy told Axios.
Trump suggests Ukraine has a ‘new leader’
Zelensky said the Ukrainian people would decide whether they wanted a new leader for the country in response to Trump’s call for Ukraine to choose a new leader.
“First of all, with all due respect to President Trump, it is up to our society, our people to choose one or the other leader,” Zelenskyy told ABC News in a television interview, a day after Trump said Ukraine needed a new president who would agree to end the war.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Sunday his country could hold elections if Russia agrees to a full 60-day ceasefire.
Zelensky’s comment came amid a row between Trump and the Ukrainian leader, who had denounced a U.S. decision to temporarily ease sanctions on Russian diesel.
“Don’t attack us. Don’t kill our children. We will stop attacking your diesel. And I think it’s a fair deal,” Zelensky said in a television interview on ABC.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha rejected Trump’s comments, writing Saturday evening that Zelensky was leading the country in a war for its independence. “He has the support of the Ukrainian people and they have the right to decide. The foreigner’s statements only confirm that he is doing his job well,” writes Sybiha.
The US president, who reached a deal with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday to buy diesel from Russia in a bid to combat high fuel prices ahead of the US midterm elections, has for weeks been urging Zelensky to stop strikes on Russian energy infrastructure.
He sought to blame record U.S. diesel prices on Ukraine rather than the U.S.-led war in Iran, which has driven up global energy prices. Ukrainian and European officials reacted with dismay to the diesel deal, saying it would help fund Russia’s war effort.
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