A day after pushing for a new Ukrainian President, Donald Trump on Sunday claimed that Russia and Ukraine had agreed to an "energy ceasefire", which was effective immediately. Zelensky said the announcement was 'news' for him.
"Effective immediately, there is an ENERGY CEASEFIRE in the War between Russia and Ukraine," the US President, who has been involved in efforts to end the war between the two European countries, announced in a post on Truth Social.
He claimed both parties had agreed to the ceasefire, urging the countries, "Do not break it!" He did not specify the timeline of the ceasefire or how it will be implemented. There was no immediate word from the Kremlin or the White House regarding the ceasefire.
Zelensky later 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," he told the news outlet.
In a separate post on X, the Ukrainian President said he had spoken to Canadian President Mark Carney, NATO General Secretary Mark Rutte and Finland President Alex Stubb about the Trump-announced ceasefire.
"Ukraine supports the ceasefire, and it is important that Russia support it as well. We are awaiting details from the American side," he wrote, adding, "Ukraine always FULLY supports steps toward de-escalation, the protection of lives, and the decisions needed to end the war and guarantee lasting peace."
I just spoke with @MarkJCarney, @alexstubb, and @SecGenNATO Mark Rutte. We discussed the energy ceasefire announced by President Trump. Ukraine supports the ceasefire, and it is important that Russia support it as well. We are awaiting details from the American side. For our part, Ukraine always FULLY supports steps toward de-escalation, the protection of lives, and the decisions needed to end the war and guarantee lasting peace. Thank you!
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) October 11, 2026
Hours later, Zelensky claimed Russia had hit a power plant.
"The Russians struck a power plant in Kyiv with a 'shahed' drone," Zelensky said in a social media post, adding that strikes on other energy facilities followed in the Kharkiv region.
"And all of this happened AFTER the President of the United States made his statement about an energy ceasefire," he added.
Zelensky Hits Out At Trump
Trump's claim comes shortly after an interview with Zelensky was aired on ABC News, where he urged the US President to "please tell Putin" to give Ukraine two months of a ceasefire.
"Please tell Putin, give us two months, 60 days of total ceasefire, 60 days, and we will organise elections," Zelenskiy told ABC's "This Week."
"READ | Zelensky Says Will Stop Russia Refinery Attacks. But There's 1 Condition
His requests came against the backdrop of Trump, on Saturday, pushing for a new President of Ukraine, which has not seen a presidential election since 2019.
Citing Zelensky's inability to strike a peace deal with Russia, which recently signed an agreement to export diesel to the US, Trump told reporters, "I suggest they get a new leader who can make a deal. For some reason (Zelensky) never does".
During his interview on Sunday, Zelensky hit back at Trump. "First of all, with all respect to President Trump, it's up to our society, up to our people to choose one or another leader."
He noted that Putin would also like to change who was leading Ukraine, telling ABC that conducting elections during a war was "really difficult" and securing the infrastructure was important before people could go out to vote.
"We need to stop this war as quickly as possible. We are counting on the United States and our allies in Europe to stop Putin," he said.
"In any case, we will defend ourselves because otherwise, we will lose our lives and homes, our freedom, independence, and Ukraine. We can't lose it," Zelensky added.
READ | US Lifts Sanctions On Sale Of Russian Diesel Until April 2027
Ukraine's Ceasefire Condition For Russia
Earlier in the day, the Ukrainian President had said his country would stop targeting Russian oil refineries if Moscow held back on its attacks on Ukraine's energy infrastructure.
"Ukraine will be ready to stop striking Russian oil refineries if Russia stops striking our energy infrastructure. Any de-escalation steps must be reciprocal and backed by real guarantees," he said in a post on X.
I am grateful to all our emergency services, who are always there for our people and work to address the aftermath of brutal Russian strikes. Only this morning, search and rescue operations were completed in Zaporizhzhia, where Russia killed 23 people, including four children. Yesterday, the Russians struck a medical facility in Kharkiv, and overnight there were Russian strikes on civilian infrastructure, residential buildings, and energy infrastructure. This morning, the Russians struck a five-story apartment building in Slovyansk – an entire section of the building was destroyed, and people may still be under the rubble. And this continues unabated – this week alone, the Russians have used around 1,450 aerial bombs, 75 missiles of various types, and more than 1,640 attack drones, about 60% of them jet-powered. Today, we will continue coordinating with partners – there will be talks with European leaders. Virtually every day, we coordinate at different levels and work on additional defense packages, first and foremost air defense and munitions for combat aircraft. All of this is to protect the lives of our people and Ukraine's interests. The real cause of the war in Europe is Russia and Russia alone. It is possible to stop strikes on energy infrastructure as early as today, but Putin does not want to do so. Ukraine will be ready to stop striking Russian oil refineries if Russia stops striking our energy infrastructure. Any de-escalation steps must be reciprocal and backed by real guarantees.
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) October 11, 2026
Tensions between Russia and Ukraine have flared over the weekend, when Trump struck a deal with Russia, under which Moscow will release gallons of diesel into global markets in exchange for sanctions relief.
Calling the deal a "weak decision", Zelensky said it would give Russia the potential to up its attacks on Ukraine. However, Trump in return blamed Ukraine for rising fuel prices.
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