US President Donald Trump has claimed that Russia and Ukraine agreed to an immediate ceasefire covering attacks on energy infrastructure, but the announcement was followed by uncertainty in Kyiv, silence from Moscow and reports of fresh Russian strikes.
“Effective immediately, there is an ENERGY CEASEFIRE in the War between Russia and Ukraine. Both parties have agreed. Do not break it!” Trump wrote on Truth Social on Sunday.
He did not explain when or how the agreement had been negotiated, which facilities would receive protection or how alleged violations would be investigated. The White House also did not immediately release a formal agreement or provide details about its duration and enforcement.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Trump’s announcement was unexpected but welcomed the possibility of a reciprocal halt. Kyiv would stop attacking Russian energy facilities if Moscow ended strikes on Ukraine’s electricity, heating and fuel infrastructure, he said.
“If Russians agree to an energy ceasefire, Ukraine will agree,” Zelensky said, while calling for clarification about what Russian President Vladimir Putin had accepted. Moscow did not immediately confirm Trump’s claim.
The announcement came one day after Ukraine offered a reciprocal halt to energy strikes. Kyiv said it was prepared to suspend attacks on Russian refineries if Russia stopped targeting Ukrainian power plants, substations, gas facilities and heating networks.
The first reports following Trump’s declaration raised doubts about whether a ceasefire had actually begun. Zelensky said Russian drones remained active over Ukraine and that glide bombs and other weapons had struck energy infrastructure. A power facility in Kharkiv was reportedly hit after the announcement, while attacks also affected Kyiv and other regions.
Ukraine said it remained willing to observe a reciprocal agreement but expected Russia to demonstrate the same commitment. The Kremlin’s silence left unclear whether Moscow had accepted specific terms, agreed only in principle or had not regarded Trump’s announcement as a completed deal.
An energy ceasefire would be narrower than a general truce. Fighting could continue along the front line, while military facilities, transport routes and other strategic targets might remain exposed. Its purpose would be to shield infrastructure essential for electricity, heating and fuel supplies as winter approaches.
Russia has repeatedly attacked Ukraine’s power network since launching its full-scale invasion in February 2022. Recent Russian strikes on Kyiv, Dnipro and other Ukrainian cities have renewed fears of another winter campaign intended to disrupt electricity and heating.
Ukraine has responded with long-range drone attacks against Russian refineries, storage facilities and fuel networks. Some operations have reached industrial sites deep inside Russia, including during a campaign in which hundreds of Ukrainian drones targeted energy and defence facilities.
The attacks have damaged Russian refining capacity and contributed to pressure on fuel supplies. Kyiv argues that these installations generate revenue for Moscow and provide fuel for Russian military operations.
Trump’s announcement also carries wider economic implications. Oil prices fell after his statement, as traders considered the possibility that a halt to refinery attacks could stabilise Russian fuel production. The declaration followed Washington’s decision to permit purchases of Russian diesel despite continuing sanctions pressure on Moscow.
Previous attempts to establish a limited ceasefire have collapsed amid competing allegations of violations. A workable arrangement would require both governments to identify protected facilities, establish a clear starting time and create a credible monitoring process.
The proposal could nevertheless provide a limited opening for diplomacy. Ukraine has already discussed energy and maritime ceasefires as part of renewed negotiations, while India’s peace proposal reportedly includes protections for energy infrastructure and Black Sea trade.
For now, Trump has announced an agreement that neither belligerent has jointly confirmed. Whether it becomes a genuine ceasefire will be determined by the attacks that stop, not by the declaration alone.
