President Donald Trump announced Sunday that Russia and Ukraine have agreed to what he described as an “energy ceasefire,” effective immediately, an announcement that caught Ukrainian officials off guard and has not been confirmed by Moscow.
“Effective immediately, there is an ENERGY CEASEFIRE in the War between Russia and Ukraine. Both parties have agreed. Do not break it!” Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social on Sunday morning .
CNN reached out to the White House and Kremlin for information on how the agreement was reached and what the next steps might be.
A source close to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky told CNN the announcement was news to them, but that Ukraine would agree if Russia does.
Another Ukrainian official told CNN, “We just read it as you did”.
ZELENSKY CAUGHT OFF GUARD
Zelensky told US news site Axios that Trump’s announcement “was news for me”. “But if Russians agree to an energy ceasefire, Ukraine will agree,” he said.
A senior official close to Zelensky reportedly told the Financial Times: “Nobody has heard of it”.
The Kremlin has yet to publicly comment on Trump’s announcement .
THE BACKSTORY: THE DIESEL DEAL AND ESCALATING TENSIONS
The announcement came days after Trump spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin and the two announced a controversial deal to supply markets with Russian diesel fuel.
On Friday, Trump announced that Russia would immediately supply over 300,000 tons of diesel fuel to the American and global marketplace, with additional volumes in November and beyond.
The deal involved a temporary easing of US sanctions on Russian diesel, prompting outrage from Ukraine and its European allies, who argued it only emboldened Putin.
Zelensky called the diesel deal “a weak decision” and said it was a “gift” to Putin.
Trump, under pressure to bring down fuel prices ahead of the midterm elections, hit back on Saturday, saying it was “time for Ukraine to get a new president” who would finally settle the war.
ZELENSKY’S CEASEFIRE PROPOSAL
Earlier on Sunday, before Trump’s announcement, Zelensky had called for an energy ceasefire in an interview with ABC News.
“Okay, if they want energy ceasefire, we are open for this,” Zelensky said. “Don’t attack us. Don’t kill our children. We will stop attacking your diesel. And I think it’s fair, fair deal”.
Zelensky said Ukraine would stop striking Russian oil refineries if Moscow in turn stopped attacking its energy infrastructure.
THE CONTEXT: A WAR OF ENERGY INFRASTRUCTURE
Russia has launched waves of attacks on Ukrainian energy infrastructure since invading in February 2022, knocking out power and heating to millions during freezing temperatures.
Ukraine has systematically struck Russian oil refineries that it says fund the war.
Trump, whose war against Iran has led to global oil shortages, has blamed Ukraine’s strikes on Russian refineries for sending diesel prices soaring, creating major risks for his party in US elections next month.
The cost of diesel has skyrocketed in recent months, putting pressure on the Trump administration to address rising costs.
EUROPEAN SUPPORT FOR ZELENSKY
European leaders rallied behind Zelensky after Trump’s call for a new Ukrainian president.
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German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said Berlin continued to “fully support” Zelensky. “Europe needs stability and that means that we are very clearly continuing to stay by the side of Ukraine and its government,” he said.
EU chief Ursula von der Leyen also backed the Ukrainian leader “as he leads the fight for his people’s freedom”.
French President Emmanuel Macron said Paris supports a “real energy ceasefire” between Russia and Ukraine, adding that “currently, Russia continues to refuse that”.
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT
It was not immediately clear what led to Trump’s Sunday announcement. The White House has not provided further details on how the agreement was reached or what enforcement mechanisms exist.
Zelensky said after speaking with the leaders of Canada, Finland and NATO: “Ukraine supports the ceasefire, and it is important that Russia support it as well” .“Ukraine wants peace. The question is whether Russia does. The Armed Forces of Ukraine have received all the appropriate orders. We are awaiting clear details of the dialogue between America and Russia, and we expect Putin to follow through on what President Trump said”.
ValidViewNetwork reports that Trump’s announcement remains unconfirmed by Moscow and was met with surprise in Kyiv.