Trump declares an 'energy ceasefire' between Russia and Ukraine. Zelenskiy says it is news to him, and a Kharkiv power plant is hit hours later
President Trump posted on Truth Social on Sunday that an energy ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine was in effect 'immediately' and that both sides had agreed. President Zelenskiy said the announcement was news to him, but that Ukraine would agree if Russia did; Reuters reported that Kyiv would stop striking Russian refineries if Moscow ends attacks on its energy network. Russia had not commented by the time of writing, the BBC said. The Mirror and The Hill reported that a power plant in Kharkiv was struck, at least twice according to the Mirror, shortly after the post. Separately, Reuters said a prominent Republican senator thinks Mr Trump's diesel deal with Russia may be illegal, and the FT reported that the US has threatened to block arms for Ukraine over its refinery strikes.
Both countries have struck each other's energy systems, so a real ceasefire on energy would end attacks on power plants, oil refineries and fuel supplies before winter. The announcement, though, came with no text, no Russian confirmation and a strike on a power station within hours, so it is not yet a ceasefire in any practical sense.
Energy attacks feed into fuel and gas prices in Europe, and a lasting truce would ease pressure on them. Until Moscow responds, expect prices to track the news rather than any agreement.
Supporters of the president's approach say a limited truce, even if announced abruptly, is the quickest way to cut the damage to civilians and could open the way to wider talks.
Critics say announcing a deal Ukraine had not seen undermines Kyiv, that the diesel agreement rewards Moscow, and that the attacks continued the same day.
The test is simple and quick: do the strikes on energy sites stop? Watch for a statement from the Kremlin, for the text of what was agreed and by whom, and for the reaction on Capitol Hill to the diesel deal. Mr Burnham's backing of an energy ceasefire matters mainly as a sign of how Britain plans to act as a go-between for Washington and Kyiv.
DailyDrop U.K. edition No. 8 · Morning · MON., OCT. 12, 2026