Trump Announces Ukraine Ceasefire, Zelenskyy Says ‘News to Me’
US President Donald Trump has announced an immediate energy ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine, but Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says the declaration came as a surprise.
Trump announced the development on Sunday through his Truth Social platform, claiming that both countries had agreed to stop attacks on energy infrastructure.
“Effective immediately, there is an ENERGY CEASEFIRE in the War between Russia and Ukraine. Both parties have agreed. Do not break it!” Trump wrote.
However, he provided no details about the agreement, including when negotiations took place or how the ceasefire would be monitored.
Zelenskyy told Axios that the announcement was “news to me” but said Ukraine was prepared to accept the arrangement if Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed to the same conditions.
The Ukrainian president asked Trump to clarify when the ceasefire would begin, indicating that Kyiv was ready to cooperate if Moscow observed the restrictions.
The announcement followed growing tensions between Washington and Kyiv over Ukrainian drone attacks on Russian oil refineries and continued Russian strikes against Ukraine’s energy infrastructure.
Trump had demanded on Saturday that Ukraine stop bombing Russian refineries. Zelenskyy rejected the demand, insisting that Moscow must first halt its attacks on Ukrainian energy facilities.
He argued that any agreement to suspend long-range strikes must apply equally to both countries and include credible guarantees from Ukraine’s international partners.
According to Zelenskyy, such guarantees should involve concrete consequences for Russia if it violates the agreement, with the United States and other allies helping ensure compliance.
Meanwhile, the Ukrainian leader said Russian drones remained active throughout Sunday, with additional airstrikes reported against locations across the country.
He specifically identified Thermal Power Station No. 5 in Kharkiv as a target in the continuing attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure.
Zelenskyy said Russian forces had carried out more than 200 strikes against electricity generation and transmission facilities during the week, alongside 17 additional attacks on oil and gas infrastructure.
The reports raised questions about whether the ceasefire announced by Trump represented an agreement accepted by both governments or an arrangement still awaiting confirmation.
The disagreement intensified after Trump announced on Friday that he was lifting sanctions on Russian diesel exports, arguing that the decision would help reduce fuel prices.
Trump said the move would ease domestic and international fuel costs ahead of the US midterm elections scheduled for November.
Zelenskyy criticised the decision, warning that additional revenue from Russian energy exports would strengthen Moscow’s ability to finance its military campaign.
Trump subsequently demanded that Zelenskyy stop attacking Russian refineries and suggested that Ukraine needed new leadership, prompting another public exchange between the two presidents.
Zelenskyy responded that Ukrainians would decide who led their country. He also indicated that he was willing to organise elections if Putin agreed to a comprehensive 60-day ceasefire.
The dispute has renewed concerns about relations between Washington and Kyiv, following last year’s confrontation between Trump and Zelenskyy in the Oval Office.
The Financial Times reported on Sunday, citing European officials, that Washington had threatened to suspend a weapons procurement arrangement supporting Ukraine to pressure Kyiv into halting deep strikes against Russian energy infrastructure.
Separately, The New York Times reported that US officials had discussed economic incentives with Moscow as part of efforts to secure a ceasefire.
The reported proposals included releasing billions of dollars in frozen Russian sovereign assets and revisiting a potential deal involving parts of Russian energy company Lukoil.
Ukraine has recently intensified attacks on Russian oil facilities, warehouses and data centres, targeting infrastructure that supports Moscow’s economy and military operations.
Meanwhile, Russian strikes have continued to cause civilian casualties. According to the report, attacks on Saturday killed 23 people in Zaporizhzhia, including four children.
Another strike damaged a five-storey apartment building in the frontline town of Sloviansk, while Zelenskyy accused Moscow of continuing its aerial campaign without interruption.
The Ukrainian president said Russian forces were using thousands of aerial bombs and jet-powered drones in attacks across the country.
With Russia’s response to Trump’s announcement still unclear, questions remain over whether both sides will stop targeting energy infrastructure and what consequences would follow any violation.
Kyiv says it is ready to accept the ceasefire if Moscow observes the same restrictions. Whether Trump’s announcement will translate into a lasting halt in attacks remains uncertain.
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