Ukraine Says Russia Violates Trump’s Energy Ceasefire

Ukraine accused Russia of violating a proposed energy ceasefire after waves of Russian strikes killed several people and wounded dozens overnight and into Monday, October 12. Ukrainian officials said the attacks targeted energy infrastructure and residential areas, raising fresh doubts about the prospects for a temporary halt to hostilities.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said a Russian jet-powered drone struck a gas production facility around midnight, while several other drones hit a petrol station. Kyiv described the incidents as violations of an energy ceasefire announced by US President Donald Trump.

Trump had declared that Russia and Ukraine had agreed to stop attacking each other’s energy systems, surprising Kyiv and its European allies. The announcement came amid pressure over high energy prices ahead of next month’s US midterm elections.

Trump has also announced a deal to buy diesel from Russia and called on Ukrainians to replace Zelenskiy through elections. Meanwhile, Ukraine’s European partners expressed scepticism about the reported ceasefire and urged Washington to maintain pressure on Moscow. The European Union approved its largest sanctions package since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

Zelenskiy Calls for US Action to Enforce Energy Truce

Zelenskiy said he had learned about Trump’s purported energy ceasefire through media reports rather than direct communication. Speaking by video link at a conference in Warsaw, he accused Russia of continuing attacks on Ukrainian energy infrastructure despite the US president’s announcement.

“There were Russian violations of the energy ceasefire announced by President Trump,” Zelenskiy said.

The Ukrainian president said the proposed arrangement could become a significant step towards ending the war if Washington took concrete measures to ensure Moscow respected it.

“This energy ceasefire, it can work, and it can become a major step toward ending the war if the Americans truly step in now and make sure Russians respect it,” Zelenskiy said.

He added that Ukraine was waiting for details about the conditions reportedly agreed between the United States and Russia, along with a clear indication of what steps Washington would take to enforce the arrangement.

Zelenskiy said Ukraine had not attacked Russian oil refineries overnight. However, he made clear that Kyiv would consider suspending such operations if Russia stopped targeting Ukraine’s energy system.

He also said Ukraine could hold elections, which have been suspended during wartime, if Moscow agreed to a full ceasefire lasting 60 days.

Russia Says Talks Continue but Rejects 60-Day Ceasefire

Russia said discussions about a possible energy ceasefire were ongoing. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said further information would be provided in due course but rejected Zelenskiy’s proposal for a 60-day truce.

Peskov reiterated that Moscow wanted a lasting settlement rather than a temporary ceasefire, pointing to previous statements by Russian President Vladimir Putin and other officials.

“In the Kremlin, both President (Vladimir) Putin and officials at other levels have repeatedly stated that we do not want a ceasefire,” Peskov said. “We want long-term peace and are prepared to do everything possible to achieve it.”

Trump’s latest announcement appeared similar to an energy ceasefire he announced a month earlier, which neither side had confirmed, according to the report. The absence of clear, publicly confirmed terms has added to uncertainty over whether the proposed arrangement can prevent further attacks.

Russian Attacks Kill Civilians in Kharkiv

Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city, was among the areas affected by the overnight strikes. Rescue workers searched the wreckage of damaged buildings as emergency crews worked through the darkness.

Nataliia Minka said she had just reached a shelter when a missile struck nearby. She and her child had seen what they believed was a missile hitting a nearby power station.

“Ten minutes had passed since they promised they wouldn’t target energy facilities,” Minka said.

She described the distress caused by the attack, recounting the suffering of families caught up in the violence and the difficulty of dealing with the aftermath.

At least three people were killed in Kharkiv during the nighttime attacks, according to the report. Further strikes on Monday morning hit residential buildings and wounded at least 22 additional people, municipal officials said.

At least three other people were reported killed on Sunday in Ivano-Frankivsk, a city in western Ukraine. The casualties underscored the continuing risks to civilians as attacks persisted across the country.

European Leaders Urge Stronger Sanctions Against Russia

Ukraine’s European allies questioned whether the proposed energy ceasefire would hold and called for continued pressure on Moscow. The EU’s approval of its largest sanctions package since the 2022 full-scale invasion reflected growing calls among European officials to use economic measures to influence Russia’s approach to the war.

EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said she would prefer a broader ceasefire that stopped people from being killed. She also said it remained unclear whether Russia would comply with the arrangement announced by Trump.

Speaking at a meeting of foreign ministers in Luxembourg, Kallas urged Washington to implement sanctions that could help bring the conflict to an end.

“We would call the US to get the sanctions in place so that we could actually finish the war,” Kallas said.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz also argued that Moscow would negotiate seriously only under pressure. He said Germany would continue its sanctions against Russia and suggested that further restrictions could be necessary following attacks on Ukraine’s civilian energy infrastructure.

European leaders’ statements highlighted concerns that a limited agreement on energy facilities might not provide sufficient protection for civilians or establish a path towards a broader settlement.

Trump Increases Pressure on Kyiv Over Russian Oil Refinery Attacks

Ukraine has increasingly targeted Russian oil refineries and logistics hubs in recent months. Kyiv has carried out these operations amid continued Russian attacks on Ukrainian cities and energy infrastructure, including strikes that threaten heating and electricity supplies during the winter.

Trump has become increasingly critical of Ukraine’s attacks on Russian refineries, blaming them for rising fuel costs, particularly diesel prices. According to the report, fuel prices have reached record levels since he launched his military campaign against Iran.

On Saturday, Trump issued a warning to Zelenskiy, saying the Ukrainian president had “better damn well stop” attacking Russian oil refineries.

A person familiar with the situation said the United States had threatened to cut off intelligence sharing with Ukraine and halt weapons supplies. Washington no longer directly provides weapons to Kyiv under the arrangement described in the report, but allows European countries to purchase weapons on Ukraine’s behalf.

The reported threats add pressure on Kyiv as it seeks continued Western support while responding to Russian attacks. Ukraine has argued that any agreement to suspend strikes on energy facilities must require Russia to stop targeting its own energy infrastructure.

Energy Ceasefire Faces Questions as Attacks Continue

The latest strikes have raised questions about the effectiveness of Trump’s proposed energy ceasefire and whether it can reduce damage to critical infrastructure. Zelenskiy has said the arrangement could contribute to efforts to end the war, but only if Russia respects its conditions and the United States takes concrete steps to enforce them.

Moscow has confirmed that discussions about a possible energy truce are continuing but has rejected Ukraine’s proposal for a 60-day ceasefire. European leaders, meanwhile, remain sceptical and are calling for stronger economic pressure on Russia.

With the terms of the reported agreement still unclear and attacks continuing, Ukraine is seeking assurances that its energy facilities will be protected. The coming days could provide further indications of whether diplomatic efforts can secure a meaningful reduction in strikes or whether the conflict will continue without an effective pause in hostilities.