Trump claims ‘energy ceasefire’ between Russia and Ukraine; Zelensky says ‘news for me’

US President Donald Trump on Sunday (Oct 11) claimed that Russia and Ukraine have agreed to an “energy ceasefire” that would halt strikes on each other’s energy infrastructure. He also warned both sides to “not break it”. However, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky appeared completely unaware of any agreement between Russia and Ukraine. Minutes after Trump’s announcement, Zelensky told Axios that the agreement was “news” for him.

In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump wrote, “Effective immediately, there is an ENERGY CEASEFIRE in the War between Russia and Ukraine. Both parties have agreed. Do not break it! Thank you for your attention to this matter.”

Shortly after, Zelensky told Axios that Trump’s announcement “was news for me. But if Russians agree to an energy ceasefire, Ukraine will agree. If president Trump negotiated it with Putin – please tell us when the ceasefire begins – we are ready and we will accept it.”

Earlier today, Zelensky reiterated that Ukraine would be ready to stop strikes on Russian oil refineries if Moscow also agreed to stop attacks on Kyiv’s energy infrastructure.

The developments come as tensions escalated between Washington and Kyiv over Ukrainian attacks on Russian oil refineries amid rising fuel prices in the United States ahead of the November 3 US midterm elections. Trump has announced a US-Russia agreement on diesel, which Zelensky described as a “weak decision”.

Earlier on Saturday (Oct 10), Trump called for Ukraine to elect a new president willing to agree to a peace deal, criticising Volodymyr Zelensky over Ukrainian strikes on Russian oil refineries. “He better damn well stop,” Trump said, adding that he believed “it's time for Ukraine to get a new president” who would agree to end the war.

In response, Zelensky said that it was up to the people of Ukraine to choose their leader. He added that if the Trump administration really wanted Ukraine to hold elections, they should tell Russian President Vladimir Putin to agree to a 60-day ceasefire, and “we will organise elections”.